2,000-Year-Old Skeleton Found In Davie
DAVIE (CBSMiami) -- The 2,000 year old skeleton of a woman was found at a construction site in Davie last month.
Authorities told the Sun Sentinel on Thursday, they believe the fully intact skeleton is that of a Tequesta Indian woman and may be the best-preserved remains of an ancient human uncovered in the last 40 years.
"It's either Tequesta or the member of a people that predates the Tequesta,"Bob Carr, of the Archaeological and Historical Conservancy in Davie told the paper. "It's unusually well-preserved, considering it's been under a highway with thousands and thousands of cars going over it every day."
The woman is about 5 feet tall and between 20 to 30 years old.
Her remains will be analyzed by the state and local archaeological authorities.
In about a month, Seminole and Miccosukee Indians will conduct a reburial ceremony in a secret location. Both groups insisted the discovery be kept quiet until Thursday citing standard protocol.
According to the paper, no other artifacts were found with the remains and there were no distinguishing marks indicating what caused her death.
The skeleton was discovered when crews were going to start installing a waterline at Pine Island Road between Griffin Road and State Road 84.
The state requires that all construction sites be surveyed to make sure no historical remains are destroyed. Carr told the paper, archaeological officials warned the waterline might run through a historical site and began surveying the area.
In the 1980s, three other intact skeletons were found in the same area.