Community Corner

Bones Found Under Rochester's Main Street are in State Archaeologists' Care

The city could learn as early as this week whether they are human remains.

Bones found recently under Rochester's Main Street may confirm the existence of an Indian burial ground in the area.

Or, they could be animal remains from long ago. 

City leaders will likely find out more this week about the bones discovered last weekend by Main Street Makeover workers. The bones were found near the corner of Third and Main streets, said Rochester City Manager Jaymes Vettraino. 

Find out what's happening in Rochester-Rochester Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

When they were discovered, the city notified archaeologists from the state of Michigan, who removed the bones and returned them to their facilities for testing. 

"We haven't confirmed what they are or what significance they may have," Vettraino said. "They are definitely bones, though."

Find out what's happening in Rochester-Rochester Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The Main Street Makeover is the ongoing reconstruction of Rochester Road through downtown Rochester. Because water mains, sidewalks and the road itself are being completely replaced, workers have had to dig far below the surface. So far, vintage soda bottles, horseshoes and other relics have been excavated and put on display for downtown visitors to see.

The possibility of an Indian burial ground downtown was recently documented by the blog "Remember Rochester." 

The blog quotes from an 1899 newspaper account of a discovery near Third and Main streets. "Last Saturday morning workmen were engaged in deepening the cellar under the stone store. ... After they had taken up the stone they dug down and about two feet under the patched portion they unearthed two skeletons, one with the head to the east, the other to the west. The bones were gathered up and it was not long before the matter was noised about town and a large crowd gathered to view the remains. "

Read the complete story here.


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