DES MOINES, Iowa — While surveying land for a multi-million dollar sewer project, archaeologists in Des Moines, Iowa, uncovered human remains believed to be 7,000 years old, WHOtv.com reported.

The fossilized bones probably belonged to a Native American who lived around 5000 B.C., according to the story.

“This is possibly the oldest, most complete burial known in the state of Iowa so it pushes back into the deeper past, our understanding of how human beings adapted to what we call Iowa,” Iowa State Archaeologist John Doershuk said.

Following the discovery, the sewer project was put on hold for at least six months, a delay which could cost the Wastewater Reclamation Authority $1.5 million, the article stated.

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