DISCOVERY BAY – The discovery of buried bones and bone fragments – which were determined Wednesday to be an archaeological find – has halted construction of part of a large on-site septic and community drain field project.
The 58 bones and fragments were discovered Sunday while Pape and Sons construction crews were digging near the shoreline at Beckett Point – which is south of Cape George on the Quimper Peninsula – in connection with the project contracted by the Jefferson County Public Utility District.
The bones were turned into Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office early Tuesday.
Sheriff’s Office detectives investigated the site on Tuesday and cordoned it off with yellow crime-scene tape.
The department also issued an order that work be discontinued until an archaeologist could examine the site.
“We’ve shut down the project out at Beckett Point,” Jefferson County Sheriff’s Detective Joe Nole said Wednesday.
The delay worries the PUD manager.
“I would have never expected this,” PUD Manager Jim Parker said.
“Hopefully, it won’t slow us down too much.
“My biggest concern is the costs.”
Prior to the discovery of the bones, the project was expected to cost about $2.8 million.
Parker didn’t know how delay might affect the overall cost of the project, which was originally expected to be completed in the fall.
The project to update the septic systems of residences on Beckett Point had been planned for about a decade.
The ground-breaking was about a month and a half ago.
