Ontario couple finds 400-year-old skeleton, gets $5,000 bill

Yahoo! News ^ | 6/17/13 | William Holt

[Slings and Arrows]

A Canadian couple who recently stumbled upon a 400-year-old skeleton is now saddled with a $5,000 bill, the Star reports.

-snip-

Ontario police, who cordoned off the area, called up forensic anthropologist Michael Spence to examine the site. Spence told the Star that the skeleton is likely that of a 24-year-old aboriginal woman who died in the late 1500s or early 1600s. Spence then contacted the Registrar of Cemeteries, which told Sauve that she and Campbell would have to hire an archeologist to examine the rest of the backyard—at their expense.

According to the Star, property owners are legally responsible to pay for such an assessment "if human remains are found on their land."

-snip-

“This is awful,” said Sauve. “God forbid you have a murder victim, and you cover them up.”

[Slings and Arrows]

Shoot, shovel, and shut up?

[Slings and Arrows]

"Hi! I'm from the government, and I'm here to help you!"

[Patriot Babe]

ROFL Exactly since no shooting occur just skip to Shovel and Shut Up.

[henkster]

Bones? What bones?

[LOC1]

Of course, since the skeleton has been there for 400 years already, there would be no hurry to examine the rest of the yard. Probably some time in the next century should be soon enough.

[oh8eleven]

the skeleton is likely that of a 24-year-old aboriginal woman
24 years old ... really? Not 20 or 25 or early 20s or mid 20s?
WTF did they count, tree bone rings?

[headstamp 2]

They’ll end up on some burial ground after all this is over. They might as well walk away from the house right now.

[Slings and Arrows]

*chuckle* What's Canadian for mañana?

[2banana]

But yet if you find ancient gold the government will take it without compensation for the national “historic” record...

[Beagle8U]

It that was my yard there would have been a really happy dog in that neighborhood. I'd have rubbed the bones with bacon grease and set it out by the road.

[Beagle8U]

*IF that was my yard..

[Average Al]

"A Canadian couple who recently stumbled upon a 400-year-old skeleton is now saddled with a $5,000 bill, the Star reports."

Good to know. If this happens again move the bones to a government dig and stumble away....

[henkster]

“I’d have rubbed the bones with bacon grease and set it out by the road.”

The only thing to have made it better would be if bones were from a person of a certain middle eastern faith.

[headsonpikes]

And the hits just keep on coming from the crazy people in the attic!

[Betty Jane]

If that was my yard, I’d charge $10.00 to rent a shovel and offer up the experience of bone hunting. Set up a hot dog cart, sell ice cream, print up some t shirts and useless trinkets. It would get dug up and I’d make some money at the same time.

[Beagle8U]

Either way you know the dog would drag it home and bury in his owner’s yard. That would teach them for letting him run loose.

[metmom]

But yet if you find ancient gold the government will take it without compensation for the national “historic” record...

I've already decided that if I find anything of value on my land or in my house, it's mine.

Since there have been so many previous owners, no telling whose it is, and the last owner was such a gold digger, she'd likely lie about it anyway just to get it.

Nope, came with the property. I don't know anything.

[21twelve]

A bit after we moved into our new house I was cleaning out the back yard and uncovered a very large bone. Took it to the vet and said it was a dog’s femur. From a very large dog. Thank goodness! (And now I know better!)

[Tenacious 1]

Bones? What bones?

EXACTLY!

I've been in construction a long time. We have dug up a lot of things in mass excavations. There is an unmentioned understanding on a commercial construction site. We don't find bones, fossils or artifacts. We have found Model A wheels and tires, soap dish clay bricks, part of an old pisol, a house, part of a boat, etc.

We don't find bones, of any species, ever, no matter what.

[Tenacious 1]

But yet if you find ancient gold the government will take it without compensation for the national “historic” record...

Ancient Gold, huh?

I recommend a don't ask don't tell policy should you find any "ancient gold". Now if you find fresh gold, by all means, run to the EPA, media, etc. I'm sure the government is not as interested in the newer stuff. :o)