Contractors working with Nex-Tech on its installation of fiber optic cables in Great Bend found human skeletal remains while digging just west of the Great Bend City Cemetery in the Azria Health Woodhaven parking lot Wednesday afternoon, Great Bend Police Chief Steve Haulmark said. 

“They appear to be very old,” he said of the complete skeleton. “We don’t know for sure, but they are probably at least 100 years old.”

The Barton County coroner was at the site but could not make a definite determination as to the age, Haulmark said. As the investigation continues, the remains will be sent off for forensic examination.

Great Bend Police officers and other authorities were at the scene Wednesday afternoon, collecting evidence. Metal detectors were used as they looked for other possible burial locations.

As to why the remains were where they were, Haulmark could not speculate.

In the meantime, there are a lot of unanswered questions, Haulmark said. “This is sort of weird. You don’t see this every day.”