Native American Skeletal Remains Found At Philly High School

PHILADELPHIA — Native American skeletal remains were discovered at a School District of Philadelphia high school recently, according to the School District of Philadelphia.

The remains were found at Central High School and officials said they believe they were used as a teaching tool in the between the 1850s through the early-to-mid 1900s.

"No human skeletal teaching collections have been a part of the School District of Philadelphia’s curriculum for at least a decade or more," the district said Friday.

The discovery comes several months after the City of Philadelphia said former Philadelphia Health Commissioner Thomas Farley resigned due to his handling of remains of MOVE bombing victims.

"Understanding that all human remains deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, District personnel took immediate action, connecting with the Department of the Interior and Temple University’s Chair of the Department of Anthropology Dr. Kimberly Williams to learn and implement the correct handling methods," the district said. "The District is also working with these partners to return this person, who has been identified as a male Native American, to his home tribe."

The district said it is working to find any other potential skeletal teaching items that may be stored in its high schools.

"Williams will continue to work with the District to help assess any identified skeletal items to ensure that, if human, they are treated with dignity and respect, and properly secured, preserved and treated in accordance with regulations and laws," according to the district.