Beach walkers find partial human skull

SEQUIM — People walking the beach at Port Williams on Labor Day found a partial human skull with the jawbone and bone fragments missing, authorities said Tuesday.

Clallam County Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King and county Coroner-Prosecuting Attorney Mark Nichols said they do not believe that foul play is involved.

“I did not see any indications or obvious signs of foul play,” Nichols said.

“The remains did appear to be old.

“A forensic examination is required to determine how old they are.”

Active investigation

The Sheriff’s Office is investigating the discovery, King said.

The beach walkers reported the find in a 1:19 p.m. Monday call to 9-1-1 from the 2000 block of Port Williams Road in Sequim.

“We believe it’s Native American, which is pretty common for us,” King said.

Photos of the remains will be examined by the King County Medical Examiner’s Office, Nichols said.

If they are thought to be old or potentially ancient remains, they will be sent to Guy Tasa, a physical anthropologist with the state Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation.

Tasa would examine the remains and test them to identify tribes who might have an interest in having the remains repatriated, Nichols said.

Circumstances

If the medical examiner’s office determines the skull is of more recent origin, local law enforcement would take a closer look at the circumstances surrounding their discovery, he said.

“It’s not uncommon for us to be in receipt of human remains,” Nichols said.

“It’s not always the case that we have a more intact skull.”

The review by the medical examiner’s office “will take at least a matter of days, if not potentially a couple of weeks,” Nichols added.

________

Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 55650, or at pgottlieb@ peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

Port Angeles teachers’ union votes to honor paraeducators’ picket line on April 8

Members of the Port Angeles Education Association voted overwhelmingly… Continue reading

Funding needed for Port Townsend homeless shelter

Operation at Legion Hall to close April 30

Port of Port Angeles renews lease for Composite Recycling Technology Center

Agreement covers 26,000 square feet at airport business park

Fire district volunteers lauded

Clallam County Fire District No. 3 recently recognized seven members… Continue reading

Clallam to continue providing deputy to Forks

Contract includes wages, mileage and maintenance reimbursement

Maintenance closes section of Olympic Discovery Trail

A portion of the Olympic Discovery Trail is closed… Continue reading

Hanna Paoluccu of Alexander, N.Y., and Rosie Berg of Nevada City, Calif., members of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group and working with the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Board, remove poisonous hemlock weed from along the Larry Scott Trail in Port Townsend on Monday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Poison hemlock removal in Port Townsend

Hanna Paoluccu of Alexander, N.Y., and Rosie Berg of Nevada City, Calif.,… Continue reading

YMCA to build childcare facility

$1-2M still needed for $6.7M project

Port Townsend Police Department recognizes award recipients

The Port Townsend Police Department recognized officers, employees, volunteers… Continue reading

Port Angeles High School evacuated due to bomb threat

Nothing suspicious found, principal says

A tree that has grown out of its tree box and shattered a nearby curb and sidewalk in the 100 block of North Oak Street is among those targeted for removal and replacement in downtown Port Angeles. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)
Port Angeles tree and sidewalk replacement to begin Monday

The Port Angeles downtown tree and sidewalk replacement project… Continue reading

Grant for Forks treatment plant to be discussed

The Clallam County Opportunity Fund Advisory Board will discuss… Continue reading