Hurricane Nicole hit Florida’s east coast Wednesday and has continued to progress throughout the state. Much of the coast was still vulnerable following Hurricane Ian six weeks ago, and Hurricane Nicole quickly eroded beaches. When the sand washed away on Chastain Beach, law enforcement discovered six skulls and bones believed to be from arms and legs.
Martin County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy John Budensiek told Newsweek the bodies were discovered close together in what looks to be a Native American burial ground. The sheriff’s department has not dug for the bones but rather worked to recover them as the sand washes away and exposes the remains.
Budensiek said the bones were in “relatively good condition” considering the medical examiner believes them to be at least 200 years old. It’s not the first time a hurricane has exposed human remains. Budensiek said Hurricane Sandy in 2012 unearthed Native American remains, as did Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
Budensiek said the remains are likely from the Ais tribe, which populated Eastern Florida in the 1700s.
“My understanding from historians here locally is when Europeans came across, they transmitted some kind of disease to the [Native Americans] and most died off at that time,” he said. “We believe there’s a good chance these are Ais [Native Americans].”
The remains were found in a confined area. According to University of Florida professor Jason Byrd, Native American remains unearthed by storms aren’t uncommon.
“So many burial mounds are beachside, and it’s almost guaranteed that after every major storm, somebody will turn up some Native American remains,” Byrd told Newsweek.
Once bones are discovered, a repatriation process begins.
“Lots of things have to happen,” Byrd said.
Bones are determined to be human or animal. If human, bones must then be determined to be modern or historic.
“If historic, you try to have an anthropologist determine the ancestry,” Byrd said. “If determined to be Native American ancestry, then we work with archaeologists to figure out where they were recovered from, what tribes were active in that area and the remains are repatriated.”
Tribal descendants are contacted. Some tribes request the remains to be repatriated to the same burial ground, but others move them to a burial ground in a more protected location.
“It’s up to the descendants as to what happens to those remains, but they are repatriated in some fashion,” Byrd said.
Budensiek said local law enforcement has to determine nothing nefarious occurred to cause the deaths.
Byrd stressed that following a major storm, bones discovered near ancient burial grounds should be left in place and authorities should be notified.
“Let law enforcement handle it,” Byrd said.
