A couple digging holes for a new fence in Far North Queensland got the shock of their lives when they unearthed what appeared to be human remains buried in a backyard. The discovery was made on June 5 during excavation works on John St in Herberton, in the Tablelands region.
Initial Response and Investigation
The bones were initially treated as a potentially serious police matter before investigators uncovered a surprising twist. Queensland Police now believe the remains belonged to a historical “teaching skeleton” once used for educational purposes. “There are no suspicious circumstances,” police said.
Local resident Maree Allison told 7NEWS she and her husband were doing excavation work on their neighbour’s property for a new fence when they made the discovery. “It looks like they’ve been hidden. It was just a really bizarre find,” Allison said.
Discovery Details
Unsure what they had uncovered, the pair immediately called police. “We weren’t sure what it was so my husband went and got the police just to come and check it out and to verify things and then we had the forensics here,” she said. As investigators continued examining the site, clues began emerging that the remains may not have belonged to a crime victim after all.
“Bones like shoulder bones, arm bones, connected together with metal parts and screws,” Allison said. “All the other bones we’ve found have holes punched in them.” Police and forensic officers examined the site after the remains were discovered.
Historical Context
Before plastic models became widely available in the mid-20th century, real human skeletons were commonly used in medical schools, universities and other educational settings. Police believe the remains discovered in Herberton are likely from one of those teaching skeletons.
However, the mystery is not entirely solved. “We can’t find the skull, we can’t find the chest plate. We just mainly have the arms and some finger bones,” Allison said. Police are appealing for anyone who lived on John St before the 1980s, or anyone with information about the historical use of teaching skeletons in Herberton, to come forward. Investigations are continuing.
