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.”

[henkster]

I also worked commercial construction back in the late 70’s when it was a different time. But I would guess if I reported bones to my foreman, he would have said “I’ll take care of it.”

[Average Al]

"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!)"

We had some friends bury a dog in their backyard. I was thinking it would raise the same issue for a future owner since it wasn't that big a yard. I think many cities don't allow residents to do that for this very reason.

[Oatka]

likely that of a 24-year-old aboriginal woman who died in the late 1500s or early 1600s.

Claim some Indian blood, declare the site "sacred" and that no white man should disturb the place - or let local Indians come and relocate her bones - like they tried to do with the Caucasian Kennewick Man.

[Daffynition]

[Conserev1]

On the pipeline crew in SO CA. We dug up a Ancient Whale.
The job was shut down for 6 mos while the twelve bones were gently removed!

[Tenacious 1]

I also worked commercial construction back in the late 70’s when it was a different time. But I would guess if I reported bones to my foreman, he would have said “I’ll take care of it.”

LOL... "Obviously they weren't buried deep enough the first time, I'll take care of it."

On a site in Northern CA in 1998, there was some concern that an endangered bird could or may be nesting in the field that was to be the site of a new Tech Research building. The first order of business was to clear the entire property of vegetation (before design was complete). Someone showed up two weeks later to inspect the property for endangered species. They found none.

[PapaBear3625]

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

In which case, the logical response is to take the gold artifact and melt it down

[Bringbackthedraft]

One can only imagine if they found a vein of gold running through the yard instead.

[oblomov]

Better yet, move the bones to the grounds of a government building.

[Squawk 8888]

To all- please ping me to Canadian topics.

Canada Ping!

[2banana]

Of course it is. And the logical response to finding an endangered species on your property is to kill it and bury it.

Government does not understand the consequences of their actions.

In which case, the logical response is to take the gold artifact and melt it down

[Average Al]

"Better yet, move the bones to the grounds of a government building."

The local DA's yard.

[Secret Agent Man]

I would have buried it deeper and not said one word about it.

[Slings and Arrows]

[Slings and Arrows]

And I thought I had trouble finding shoes that fit...

[Slings and Arrows]

That seems to be the consensus.

[ClaytonP]

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

Better do this to be sure:

The Sopranos Breaking Bones

[VRWCarea51]

What they should do is have a title search run. If there is no title going back that far, I’d suggest to the Crown that the State owes reparations for confiscation of property to the original owner who by as stated by experts have been residing there since 1500.

Or as Legal Guardians of the remains sue the State for selling of a Sacrid Burial Grounds.

[a fool in paradise]

digging PING

[ejonesie22]

Drivers license, she was an undocmentneted worker after all...