4,000 Year-Old Human Skull Discovered On A River Bank In Indiana

This was an interesting discovery.

A skull dating back to over 4,000 years ago was discovered on an Indiana river bank.

The skull was discovered back in June and after a preliminary examination the Fayette County coroners’ office has revealed the skull is 4,270 years old.

WSILTV reported more on the discovery of the ancient skull:

The Fayette County coroner announced a groundbreaking discovery of human remains which he says adds historical significance to the community.

The Fayette County Coroner Eddie Richardson said preliminary analysis revealed a human skull found on the Whitewater River bank is about 4,270 years old, dating back to around 2300 B.C.

The remains were discovered on June 2, 2025, and reported to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Department. Dr. Krista Latham, with the University of Indianapolis Human Identification Center, and members of the University of Georgia conducted the testing which confirmed the age of the skull, the coroner stated.

“This discovery underscores the importance of our community’s vigilance and the necessity of professional collaboration. I want to commend the landowner for their responsible action in immediately reporting the finding,” said Richardson.

Due to the antiquity of the remains, the coroner’s office is collaborating with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources for guidance on repatriation and site management. This ensures the discovery is managed according to cultural and legal standards.

Take a look:

A coroner's officer in eastern Indiana is sharing photos and more information about a skull that was found over the summer that dates back to 2300 B.C. — approximately 4,270 years old.

MORE: https://t.co/I4uXqvfGBI 

(📸: Fayette County Coroner's Office) pic.twitter.com/lu9R3Pgwdu

— WTHR.com (@WTHRcom) October 14, 2025

CBS News reported on how authorities were able to date the skull:

Specialists from the University of Georgia and the Human Identification Center at the University of Indianapolis, which aims to “provide expert forensic anthropology consulting services,” according to its website, helped confirm the age of the remains, the coroner’s office said.

The office announced the discovery on Indigenous Peoples’ Day and called it “a powerful and humbling reminder that people have walked this land, our home in Fayette County, for millennia.”

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“It calls upon all of us to handle this matter with the utmost respect and diligence,” the office said in its social post.

The office is waiting to receive guidance from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources on next steps to take to ensure “that this ancestral discovery is handled according to cultural and legal standards,” according to the post.