Home once sat on Guttenberg hospital construction site where skull found

There are new details about the skull crews found buried near the construction site of the new Guttenberg Hospital.

Neighbors say there was once a home on the spot where workers found the remains.

For the past several months, 90-year-old Francis Meyer watched his neighbors disappear. Crews tore down homes to make way for the new hospital.

"They demolished three houses here," Meyer said. "One over there, one right here and one across the street."

These days, he's keeping a close eye on something else going on near his backyard. While excavating this land, crews came across what archaeologists believe to be ancient human skull.

"I go over and peak over and watch once in awhile for curiosity's sake," Meyer said. I haven't seen any bones or anything else like that yet."

The state archaeologist's department says there is a lot they still don't know. They have a crew at the scene, literally digging for answers.

Investigators are working to figure out where the skull came from, how long it's been there and if there are more bones buried in the area.

Meyer has his own theory.

"Back in the ancient times I suppose a lot of burials were like that," Meyer said. "Families probably buried their deceased maybe in their yard."

He's anxious to learn the stories of the past as he waits to see the hospital of the future.

The state archaeologist says they are not sure yet if they will ask crews to stop working in the area while they investigate.

A hospital spokesperson told KCRG-TV9 on Wednesday that crews will continue work on the $12 million-plus project.

-- Katie Wiedemann, KCRG-TV9