There are a lot of things that construction workers hope to avoid when digging, like gas, sewer, and electric lines, but I’m sure it was even more unsettling for Pennsylvania road workers to find human bones during their dig.
While working on Route 61 in Schuykill County a few days ago, the crews actually uncovered a 97 year old mass human burial site, which will undoubtedly cause some construction delays. It’s safe to say this is near the top of the list for the strangest reasons for a construction delay this year. I’m not so sure there’s even an option for that on anybody’s delay request form.
The human remains are believed to have belonged to victims of the 1918 Spanish Influenza epidemic, from which some 1,600 locals died in roughly one month. According to historians, it was not uncommon for people to be buried in large unmarked graves like this one, when so many people died in such a short period of time.
A forensic archeology team from Mercyhurst University is now busy uncovering the rest of the remains. DNA tests will be run to determine if they can determine who the bones belonged to. A proper burial will take place for the remains after the tests are complete.
The video below is from Local Channel 16 WNEP news in Pennsylvania and the full story can be read in the link below.
Mass Grave Discovered by Construction Worker | WNEP Pennsylvania
