Bones exposed in historic cemetery investigated

P.E.I.'s chief archaeologist is investigating human bones that are being exposed by erosion at a Lower Montague shoreline cemetery.

Helen Kristmanson visited the 213-year-old St. Andrew's Point Pioneer Cemetery last week.

The investigation came after a man found several bones while walking through the cemetery. He wasn't the only one to have such a find.

"It's the first time I've come across it in my experience on P.E.I., but we are an island and erosion is an ongoing concern," she said.

When Kristmanson went to investigate, she came across one as well.

"I'm sure it's not the first time it's happened on the Island. The goal is to see how we can mitigate the concern at the cemetery and of course another one of our goals is to decide what will be done with the human remains," she said.

"Most likely they'll be reinterred in the cemetery, but we'll be looking at that."

A section of the cemetery has already disappeared due to erosion. There are five headstones remaining and several worn sandstone markers.

Kristmanson expects to have her recommendations ready by next week.