Human skull found on beach in Filer Township. 

Human skull found on beach in Filer Township. 

FILER TOWNSHIP (Manistee County) — A human skull was found on the Lake Michigan shoreline on Sunday, Dec. 12, according to Manistee County Sheriff Brian Gutowski. In a press release, Gutowski said deputies were dispatched to a beach where a person had found the skull. 

“Preliminary examination of the skull by the Manistee County Medical Examiner indicates that the skull is very old, likely before the establishment of death records, Gutowski said. “Preliminary indications are that it is also likely the skull of a native American.”

Gutowski said the sheriff’s office has been working closely with the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians. He said that tribal records indicate that there was an Ottawa encampment near the area where the skull was located. 

“We will continue to work closely with our tribal partners, our medical examiner and other partners on this incident,” he said.

Filer Township is located just north of the Mason County line on the west side of Manistee County.

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