Animal bones were found underground on Thursday during construction downtown. (Ross Lavigne/CHAT News)

By Jesse Gill

Animal bones found underground during construction downtown Medicine Hat

Sep 20, 2024 | 5:06 PM

Construction came to a standstill for a short period of time on Third Street Southwest in Medicine Hat’s downtown on Thursday.

The Medicine Hat Police Service had been notified about some bones found underground by the construction crew.

Acting Insp. Rod Thompson said members of the patrol section and forensic identification section attended the scene.

“The remains did not appear to be human remains, so following that, the Alberta regional archaeologist was notified, and some photographs were sent to the archaeologist, and it was deemed that the remains were not human,” Thompson said.

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Construction in the 600 block of Third Street Southwest was only stopped for a few hours while the investigation took place.

Work continued on Friday as the project is anticipated to be completed by early November.

Thompson said that when they do get contacted with calls like this it’s standard for them to bring their forensic identification unit onsite.

“That way they can properly photograph and process the scene, and seize any exhibits or evidence if need be,” Thompson said.

“From that point on, we make sure that we’re in contact with the appropriate partners.”

In this case that partner was a provincial archaeological office who will continue their study on the animal bones.