The discovery near River and Craycroft is not part of a criminal investigation.
TUCSON, Ariz. — A human bone found last week in the Catalina Foothills has been identified as prehistoric, officials said, ending early public concern that the discovery near River and Craycroft was tied to a criminal case.
The Tucson Police Department confirmed the bone was found May 7 and said the case was being treated as a prehistoric anthropological investigation. James Watson, curator of bioarchaeology at the Arizona State Museum, said the remains appeared ancient and were likely more than 50 years old.
Watson said the exposed bone was weathered and sun-bleached when it was examined. “The bone that was exposed had been weathered, and sun-bleached, and it was very clearly ancient,” Watson said. After that finding, Watson said he documented the site, reviewed the location and recovered the remains from the riverbank.
The work included checking the surrounding soil for more remains or objects that may have been buried with the person. Watson said his team also began the process of contacting Native American tribes that may have a claim to the remains. He said tribal maps help identify areas where communities have asked to be notified when likely Native American remains are found.
Watson said many archaeological remains found in the Tucson area are later claimed by Native American tribal communities. He said construction, roadwork and natural events such as monsoon runoff can expose buried remains. In this case, he said remains had been found near the same area about three years earlier, meaning more discoveries there are possible.
No criminal charges have been filed, and police have said the discovery is not part of a criminal investigation. Watson said the next steps are to complete the documentation, follow the reporting process and return the remains to a descendant community when affiliation is determined.
The case now rests with archaeological and tribal notification procedures rather than police evidence work. Watson said the goal is to move quickly while treating the remains as those of a person whose final home must be resolved.
Author note: Last updated May 18, 2026.