Coffins and Possible Human Bone Found in Duluth During Excavation

According to CBS3Duluth  crews from St. Louis County found multiple wooden coffins and a possible human bone in the excavation site on the east side of Arlington Avenue, just south of Arrowhead Road. Officials from St. Louis County said the excavation work in that area was specifically looking for human remains as this area is near the Greenwood Cemetery which was a burial site.

This particular site was used for around 5,000 people who had died at the former St. Louis County Poor Farm from 1891-1947. The Fond du Lac Band, as well as the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council, were also notified because some of the people buried in the cemetery were of Native American ancestry.

Workers were advised by the State Archeologist to open the coffins which were all found empty, the possible human bone that was found was outside one of the coffins. Authorities are assuming that the coffins and bones are remnants from a grave relocation project that was done in the 1960's.

Multiple archaeologist teams are expected to come to the site within the next few weeks to see if any more bones are in the area, This particular project involves reconstructing and widening Rice Lake Road north of Arrowhead Road as well as other intersection improvements, and the digging project was to prepare the area for a scheduled project in 2020.