A group of friends relaxing on a beach at Lake Mead in the United States discovered a human jawbone containing intact teeth and fillings.
The bones were accidentally spotted in the water by one of the holidaymakers, who pulled the jawbone onto land after noticing an unusual object beneath the surface, according to local news outlet KLAS.
Police officers who arrived at the scene confirmed that the remains were genuine human bones. Authorities have not yet identified who the remains belong to or how long they lay in the water, and an investigation into the discovery is currently underway.
Previous remains discovered at Lake Mead
The recovery marks the second time in four years that human remains have been found along the shores of Lake Mead. In May 2022, visitors discovered human remains preserved inside a barrel on the shoreline. Investigators later established that the man had suffered a fatal gunshot wound during the 1980s, though his identity has still not been determined.
Both discoveries coincided with record drops in water levels across the lake. One holidaymaker at the reservoir noted that as the water recedes, skeletons emerge.
Lake Mead is a major reservoir formed by the construction of the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River, sitting along the border between Nevada and Arizona. It is the largest reservoir in the United States by water capacity, supplying fresh water to millions of people across Nevada, Arizona, and California.
In recent years, severe regional drought conditions have caused water levels throughout the reservoir to drop dramatically, exposing vast areas of previously submerged lakebed along with sunken boats and historic human remains.
Separate discovery identified in Arizona
In a separate case in the United States, police in Santa Cruz County announced that human remains found at Patagonia Lake State Park 48 years ago belong to a Canadian citizen. The skeleton was originally discovered on the lake shore by a passerby.
Patagonia Lake State Park is a protected state park and recreational area located in Santa Cruz County in southern Arizona, near the border between the United States and Mexico. The park features an artificial lake created by damming Sonoita Creek, which is popular for boating, fishing, and camping.
