COLLETON COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) – Authorities are investigating after human skeleton remains were discovered on Edisto Island.

On Friday, deputies from the Colleton County Sheriff’s Office were called to a beachfront property in the Jeremy Cay community near Legare Road. Tourists visiting the area had stumbled upon what they first thought were fossils, as reported by the sheriff’s office.

The sheriff’s office noted the historical significance of the site where the remains surfaced. They explained that the area was once the location of the 19th-century settlement known as Edingsville Beach.

“Early indications suggest the remains may originate from a long forgotten burial site,” the sheriff’s office said.

The Colleton County Coroner’s Office is assisting with the recovery of the remains, which have been sent to the Medical University of South Carolina for forensic analysis and identification.

An investigation is ongoing. The sheriff’s office said the identity of the individual and the circumstances surrounding their death is unknown at this time.