A crew installing a water service line uncovered human remains Jan. 5 at their worksite site on Withrow Avenue, according to City of Toronto officials.
Const. Laura Brabant with the Toronto police says an anthropologist was called to identify the remains. “The anthropologist attended the scene and has advised the remains are from an ancient Indigenous burial ground that is marked in that area,” she said.
In a statement, the City of Toronto said construction in the area will be halted while an investigation takes place.
“The anthropologist will provide instructions for the city once the investigation is complete,” the city said.
The area has been known to be an archeological site since at least 1886, when it’s reported that crews excavating the initial construction of Withrow Avenue found communal gravesites in the area.
Withrow Public School now occupies the site of former Indigenous encampments where a spear point dating back about 7,000 years was found, according to a city report on the Danforth Avenue area that comprises Greektown.
Police remain on scene to preserve the area and remains, pending further direction from the anthropologist.
— with files from The Canadian Press