Chimney Sweep in Edisto Beach, SC

A group of tourists in South Carolina may have stumbled upon a historical burial site after uncovering fossils they soon realized were instead human remains.

The group was exploring the area of Jeremy Cay on Edisto Island on Friday, according to a press release from the Colleton County Sheriff's Office (CCSO).

"The location of the discovery is historically significant, once home to the 19th century settlement known as Edingsville Beach," the sheriff's office said in the release. "Early indications suggest the remains may originate from a long forgotten burial site."

Colleton County Coroner Rich Harvey told Newsweek by phone on Sunday that the remains include a skull and a bunch of separated bones.

"This is rare," he explained, adding that the remains "could be from Revolutionary War [or] Civil War."

Newsweek has reached out to the CCSO and the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) via email during non-working hours Sunday for more information.

Why It Matters

Edingsville Beach is a former vacation destination that is now underwater due to erosion. People who visit sometimes find artifacts, according to the Edisto Island website.

"The Lost Village of Edingsville Beach," as it is referred to, sits along the Atlantic coast about 40 miles south of Charleston. It has already been the site of several historical discoveries, including human remains, old building materials, as well as ceramics, the website said.

What To Know

The CCSO says the tourists called authorities after they found "what they initially believed to be fossils."

Multiple agencies responded to the area and determined the remains could be historically significant, according to CCSO.

The county coroner then collected the remains to transport them to MUSC for further forensic testing, in the hopes of identifying and determining the age of those remains.

The area where the remains were found was once-popular vacation destination for local plantation owners that began to fall into disrepair even before the Civil War as wealthy people abandoned their vacation homes and the ocean took hold of them, according to the Edisto Island website.

Many enslaved people also lived on Edisto Island, although it's unclear how many lived in the Edingsville Beach area. At its height, the community had about 60 houses, many churches, a school, and billiard saloon among other outbuildings and boathouses.

While many sharecroppers moved into these vacant dwellings, the rough sea, erosion and devastating hurricanes in 1885 and 1893 eventually made the area uninhabitable and forced the town to be abandoned before the 20th century, the Edisto Island website explained.

This is not the first time remains of historical significance have been found in the area. In 2015, another tourist found bones in the mud and pulled them out before the tide came in. Shortly after, the discovery of a skull with teeth was made by a former ranger at the Edisto Beach State Park.

Both sets of remains were identified, one as a cow skeleton, as dating back to 1865 and 1870, according to the website.

Harvey told Newsweek that usually when he gets calls about remains, they are animal bones and not human remains like the ones found last week.

What People Are Saying

Colleton County Coroner Rich Harvey told Newsweek by phone Sunday: "We got a group of bones that we're gonna try to identify and figure out exactly how old are they."

The Colleton County Sheriff's Office said in its Friday press release: "At this time, the identity of the individual and the circumstances surrounding their death remain unknown. This is an active investigation, and the CCSO is working closely with the Coroner's Office and other partner agencies to determine more about the remains and their origin."

What Happens Next?

The bones will be inspected by scientists to determine origin and age.

"The remains are going to be taken to a forensic anthropologist," Harvey said, adding that it's unclear how long it will take to complete the forensic analysis of the remains.

MUSC is working to provide Newsweek with more information on the forensic analysis process.

Update 5/25/25, 12:50 p.m. ET: This story was updated with comment from Harvey.

Charleston is a peninsula surrounded by water, but it isn’t necessarily a beach town, per se. If you’re after the best Charleston beaches, you’ll need to plan ahead to drive to visit one of the sea islands that flank the city. The decision will pay dividends, however, as each beach offers wide views to the horizon, the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, and plenty of space to enjoy both. Most on this list come with a “beach town,” to boot, from Edisto’s sleepy seafood shacks to live bands at the Windjammer as the sun sets on Isle of Palms.

Whatever you’re after, pack some sunscreen and keep these tips in your back pocket for assured fun in the sun: The later in the day you arrive, the more crowded it will be. If you are picky about your place on the sand, then go to Charleston beaches early. The combo of tourists who generally have later starts to the day plus locals who like to knock off work early to get a few hours of beach time equals an increase in traffic and a decrease in towel real estate nearest peak sunshine. Note that each beach has its own rules for parking, from Folly’s “wheels off the road” rule to Isle of Palms’ city operated lots. It’s a delicate dance between livable beach communities and visitor pressure, so respect and patience keep public access palatable for all.

Heads-up: drinking and smoking on most Charleston beaches is a big no no, and can cost you big time. It’s a rule that is consistently enforced, and most locals know someone (or have been someone) who came with beer or other alcoholic beverages in a beach tote and left with a tan and a fine of up to $1000. Also, note that vibes vary from beach to beach. Each one of Charleston’s beach towns has its own culture. While Folly Beach is a free-stylin’ hippie, Edisto is a genteel country cousin, and Isle of Palms a fun-loving student on spring break. This is, of course, a simplification, but can help with deciding which to-the-water trek most fits your interests.

Read on for our complete Charleston city guide, which includes: