Sheriff: Human Skull Likely From Old Burial Site

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Authorities say a human skull found along the Musselshell River probably washed downstream from an old American Indian burial site.

The Billings Gazette reports the skull was found Monday by a state wildlife crew conducting a fish survey with two helpers, including Democratic state Sen. Kendall Van Dyk of Billings.

Wheatland County Sheriff Jim Rosenberg emailed photos of the skull to the state crime lab, which identified the skull as an American Indian.

Rosenberg and lab officials agree it was probably unearthed during last year's floods. Rosenberg says the skull showed no signs of a violent death and no one has been reported missing.

Rosenberg says the State Historic Preservation Office will try to identify which tribe the remains belonged to and return the skull for reburial.