Bones found at Oak Harbor road construction site likely are ‘historic,’ coroner says

OAK HARBOR — A construction crew at an Oak Harbor road project was surprised Thursday morning when workers uncovered human bones on the site.

The bones were later determined to be historic remains, and likely American Indian, officials said.

The section of SE Pioneer Way in downtown Oak Harbor has been under construction for several months, city engineer Eric Johnston said. The bones were found around 8:30 a.m.

Work crews called police, who called the coroner.

It didn’t take long for Island County Coroner Robert Bishop to determine the bones were historic, he said. He made the call about 10 a.m.

The case was turned over to the state Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, he said. His office has no jurisdiction over historic remains.

“Our role in this is just to make sure they’re not modern day or anything,” he said.

The bones remained in place Thursday night, Johnston said. The work site was locked down and was being monitored until state archaeologists could get there.

Similar sites have been found around Whidbey Island over the years, he said.

Pioneer Way is roughly 100 years old, he said. The sewer and water lines there date back to the 1930s, and the asphalt is probably a decade or so older.

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.