A group of tourists exploring Edisto Island in South Carolina made a discovery when they stumbled upon human skeletal remains on Edingsville Beach. Initially believing they had found fossils, the tourists found a skull and a scattering of separated bones.
The Colleton County Sheriff's Office received a call regarding the discovery and responded to the scene. "Deputies were dispatched to the Jeremy Cay community near Legare Road, a beachfront property, after tourists exploring the area uncovered what they initially believed to be fossils," according to ABC News. Police secured the scene before conducting an initial investigation. The Colleton County Coroner's Office also responded to assist in the recovery of the human remains.
The remains were collected from the beach and transferred to the Medical University of South Carolina for detailed forensic studies to determine their origin and age. "At this time, the identity of the individual and the circumstances surrounding their death remain unknown. This is an active investigation, and the CCSO is working closely with the Coroner's Office and other partner agencies to determine more about the remains and their origin," the Colleton County Sheriff's Office stated, according to ABC News.
"Early indications suggest the remains may originate from a long-forgotten burial site," the sheriff's office stated. There are suggestions that the remains could belong to someone who lived during the American Revolutionary War or the American Civil War. The forensic team will attempt to determine not only the identity of the person but also their age and possible cause of death.
Edisto Island is a historic site that was once home to the 19th-century settlement of Edingsville Beach, which previously served as an exclusive vacation destination for plantation owners from the southern United States. Established in 1825, Edingsville Beach was a luxurious resort town that served as a fashionable summer retreat for Charleston's elite. At its height, the settlement had about 60 houses and community buildings, including churches, a school, boathouses, and a billiard saloon.
However, the settlement began to suffer from coastal erosion, leading to the loss of homes and eventual abandonment during the American Civil War. Further decline was caused by two catastrophic hurricanes in 1885 and 1893, which ultimately destroyed what remained of Edingsville Beach. Today, parts of the abandoned community are located beneath the sea.
In addition to wealthy vacationers, Edisto Island was also home to enslaved people, although it is unknown how many resided specifically in the Edingsville area. Over the years, many sharecroppers settled in the vacant houses, but the sea's encroachments ultimately destroyed the area.
Over the years, Edingsville Beach has been the site of several historical discoveries, including human remains, old building materials, and ceramics. In 2015, another tourist found bones in the mud and pulled them out just before the tide came in. Such findings continue to shed light on the history of the island.
The investigation into the newly discovered remains is currently active. Authorities hope that forensic analyses will help reconstruct part of the past of an area that was swallowed by the ocean, but whose history continues to emerge with each tide. "Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available," police said, according to ABC News.
The preparation of this article relied on a news-analysis system.