Human Remains of At Least 3 People Found Near Minn. Lake Believed to Be Hundreds of Years Old

Authorities said the remains were discovered in Gould Township within a "known cultural site"

People gathering wild rice from a lake in Minnesota discovered human skeletal remains that are believed to hundreds of years old.

On Saturday, Aug. 31, a group of wild ricers contacted the Cass County Sheriff’s Office to report that they found human remains in Gould Township, off the shores of Leech Lake, the sheriff's office and the Lake Leech Band of Ojibwe Police shared in a joint release obtained by PEOPLE.

After arriving at the scene, deputies discovered skeletal remains of at least three people "believed to be several hundred years old," the release notes.

Before securing the remains, authorities contacted the Leech Lake Heritage Sites program, as well as the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council. The discovery remains under investigation and, while their exact location has not been disclosed, authorities confirmed the human remains were "located within a known cultural site."

"The Cass County Sheriff’s Office, the Leech Lake Tribal Police Department, and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe would like to take this opportunity to remind citizens the importance of contacting law enforcement should they encounter suspected human remains and to not disturb the area," the release read. "In doing so, this ensures vital evidence is preserved, along with being respectful of those who were here before us."

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According to the Associated Press, authorities said they believed erosion caused the remains to surface.

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Ken Washington, police chief for the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, told the news agency that human remains are occasionally found in the area. “They’ll just arise like that just through natural erosion of the water coming up on shorelines,” he said.

Remains are often unearthed through construction projects in the area, as well, which has "happened a couple times a year," added Cass County Sheriff Bryan Welk.

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As the investigation continues, authorities stressed that there can be serious consequences should anybody try and interfere with the area.

"Knowingly disturbing suspected cultural sites and/or cemeteries can have civil and criminal repercussions," authorities said in the news release, sharing that they are "working together to ensure the human remains are preserved and ultimately restored to their original state in a timely, and culturally appropriate manner."

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