What Happens to Human Remains Found on a Construction Site?

OLYMPIA, WASHINGTON—Guy Tasa, physical anthropologist for the state of Washington, is working to rebury the human remains occupying 120 cardboard boxes stored at the Department of Archaeology & Historic Preservation. “They represent the remains of somebody who’s come before us hundreds, maybe thousands of years ago. And they deserve all of the respect and treatment we give anybody today,” he said. Many of the bones are recovered when homeowners start digging on their properties. A state fund now will reimburse landowners for the archaeological excavations.