Bones believed to be human have been unearthed by workers digging in a street on South Australia's Eyre Peninsula.
SA Water staff exhumed the bones during excavation works in Port Lincoln about 11am today.
"At this time we can confirm bones, which appear to be human, were uncovered during a dig in Edinburgh Street," a police spokesperson said.
Edinburgh Street is in the middle of the regional city, two streets back from the town's main thoroughfare, Liverpool Street.
Port Lincoln police have attended the scene and were "trying to determine the origin of the bones", the spokesperson said.
Forensic response officers and a forensic anthropologist will conduct further examinations in Port Lincoln "in coming days", police said.
Steve Hankins — whose company is building a brewery at the site where the bones were found — said there was no clue as to how old they were.
"The SA Water guys rocked up here this morning and started digging and then everything stopped and then the police rocked up and then there were some bones lying on the ground," he said.
Police have asked anyone with information that could assist their investigation to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
"It didn't really sink in to start with. Nobody really comprehended how bad it was … it's just a weird feeling," Mr Hankins said.
"Could be 30 years old, could be 200 years old and that's what I want to know."
Moyra Nicholson — from the local Vinnies charity shop — said she saw police arrive this morning and take photos of the scene.
"Then, about an hour later, they put a light sheet around and then, an hour-and-a-half later, they put the big orange screen around," she said.
“It's a bit sad but whether they've been there for a long time [is unclear]."
SA Water said the crews that made the discovery had been conducting sewer connection works.
"A range of support services are available to our people, and we encourage local teams and our contract partners to access these if the matter has raised any concerns for them," a spokesperson said.
