Builders Working on a Home Discover Buried Bones — Which May Have Belonged to Children

Builders working on a home in England uncovered human remains that police believe may belong to children.

On Friday, Aug. 22, the Lancashire Constabulary confirmed that bones had been found in Lytham, noting that the discovery “caused quite a bit of discussion within the community.” Authorities said the remains appear to be part of “an isolated historical burial.”

Police reported that on Saturday, Aug. 15, around 12:37 p.m. local time, builders working on a property on Cleveland Road discovered what they believed were bones. Investigators later confirmed the remains were human and “may be that of children.”

Officials have since removed the bones from the site and are working to determine their identity.

Detective Inspector Andrew Crook of West CID described the find as an “incredibly sad discovery.”

“We are continuing our enquiries to establish the identity of the remains, including their age and how they died,” Crook said in a statement. “Whilst we are keeping an open mind, I want to make it clear that we are not treating this as suspicious. We believe at this stage that the burial is a historic one.”

He also thanked the homeowners and contractors for their cooperation during the investigation.

Photos from the scene, shared by the Manchester Evening News and The Sun, show crime scene investigators in hazmat suits at the property while a vehicle was parked out front.

The Lancashire Constabulary, which did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for updated information on Sunday, Aug. 24, has asked anyone with knowledge about the burial or the discovery to come forward.

This discovery comes just two months after a road construction crew in Arizona unearthed human remains during a road-widening project. At the time, the remains were determined to have been buried for “well over 20 years,” according to Pima County Sheriff’s Department spokesperson Angelica Carrillo, who spoke with local outlet KOLD.