Donated skulls unearth more human remains

Authorities in Washington state are looking for a person who donated three human skulls to a thrift store last month.

In a macabre twist, their pleas for information prompted the handover of yet more human remains instead.

The Seattle and King County Medical Examiner said they were hoping to speak with the person who left the trio of skulls at a Goodwill store in Bellevue - in the hopes of learning about their origins.

One of the skulls was more than 100 years old and appeared to be the fragile remains of a Native American child, said medical examiner spokesman Keith Seinfeld.

The two others were adult specimens, possibly used in a medical clinic or for instruction, officials said.

Native American child to be returned

"We have issued this plea for information, particularly in regard to the Native American child, so we can return it to the tribe from which it came," he said.

In Washington state, the law requires that Native American skulls be returned to their tribe of origin for burial.

Since the call for more information went out, three people have said they wished to hand over the human skulls in their possession.

Mr Seinfeld said it's not unusual for people to obtain or inherit skeletal remains.

But he urged those who do have them to hand them over to authorities without penalty.

Source: Reuters