More bones have been found at another construction site on Mackinac Island.
Last fall, hundreds of human bones were unearthed during the excavation of the former McNally Cottage.
Now just a few bones have been discovered on the site of a remodel for a Main Street store. The island's police chief, Jeff Marks, says it's not yet clear they're human, but if they are he believes they're likely of Native American ancestry. That's based on where the site is located.
The island is an ancient burial ground. A repatriation specialist with the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Cecil Pavlat, says any construction on Mackinac runs the risk of unearthing human remains. He says it's "unfortunate," but he also says all is being handled appropriately by island officials and the property owner.
This spring, the tribe hopes to finish the process of re-burying remains found during excavation of McNally Cottage. Earth from that site, along with the remains, has been removed and the tribe is building a burial mound on the island, in the shape of a turtle.