Bones that appear to be human have been discovered in a remote area near Index, according to the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office.

The bones were found Wednesday by a fisherman, said Rebecca Hover, spokeswoman for the Sheriff’s Office. The man called authorities Wednesday night to report the find, she said. Detectives and deputies, along with the Snohomish County Medical Examiner’s Office, went to the area today and collected the bones.

The person’s identity and gender are unknown. Investigators also are unsure how long the bones have been in the location and how the person died, Hover said.

The exact location of the discovery was not disclosed.

Because investigators don’t yet know the age or gender of the person whose remains were discovered, they don’t know if the remains likely belong to anyone reported missing, Hover said. The Medical Examiner’s Office will try to determine the cause of death as well the person’s identity, she said.