More Bones Unearthed During Construction Near Native American Burial Site: Riverside Police

RIVERSIDE, IL — Skeletal remains were once again found in River on Thursday morning. Riverside Police were called to the 100 block of Bloomingbank at 10:35 a.m. Sept. 21 for a report of skeletal remains. Police said the remains were found near a known Native American burial site.

Police said the Army Corps of Engineers archaeologists were on scene, in accordance with federal regulations
for the permitting of the sewer separation project, when the additional remains were found. The remains were turned over to Riverside Police Department so that officers could transport them to the Cook County Medical Examiner's office as part of the original discovery.

Riverside Police Chief Thomas Weitzel said police have recovered other evidence indicating the remains could have been those of settlers; a button recovered was consistent with those on early settler's clothing as documented in the early 1800s.

Patch reported Sept. 14 when the first report came in that bones were found while a construction crew was doing sewer work. At that time, police said that the area is a well-documented Native American burial ground and skeletal remains have been found in this same general area in years past.

According to police, once the Army Corps of Engineers archaeologists are done at the scene on Thursday, the dig site will be turned back over to Riverside Police and then the village can continue its sewer separation project.

Chief Weitzel said residents may see police officers, detectives, and evidence technicians in the area for the next few weeks. If there are more skeletal remains recovered, police must follow the same process to ensure these are not crime scenes but early settlers or Native American remains.

Photos provided by Riverside Police Department.