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Geocachers find burial site near Nanaimo

A group of geocachers found more than they were searching for on the weekend.

A group of geocachers found more than they were searching for on the weekend.

Nanaimo RCMP confirmed Monday that a group of people on an afternoon geocaching foray discovered what appears to be a First Nation burial site.

Const. Joe Furtmann, Nanaimo RCMP spokesman, said the site contains the remains of one person and was found Saturday in the Cedar area south of Nanaimo.

Furtmann said in the interest of protecting the site, he would not be more specific about its location.

"Some geocachers were out there doing their hide-and-seek thing and found these bones and called us," he said.

Police do not suspect foul play and have, so far, found nothing to indicate it is anything other than a burial site. They are now working with the Snuneymuxw First Nation and the B.C. Heritage Branch, which will conduct studies to determine the age of the site and other details.

"The [RCMP] anthropologist has looked at the digital photos and said, 'Yes, that's what that is,'" Furtmann said. "If it turns out to be anything other than that I'll be shocked and, at least at this point in time, everybody is quite content that's what they found."



Chris Bush

About the Author: Chris Bush

As a photographer/reporter with the Nanaimo News Bulletin since 1998.
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