A group of workers from the Electricity Board, engaged in digging for an electric pole installation in front of the election secretariat office in Matara Fort, recovered several skeletal remains believed to date back to the Dutch period.
Police said the Electricity Board workers reported the discovery of potential human bones to the Department of Archaeology on Wednesday. Subsequently, an investigation was initiated, and the matter was brought to the attention of the Matara Magistrate Court.
The Magistrate examined the site and also the skeletal remains, which are housed in the Matara Star Fort Museum, along with other recovered artifacts.
Police said several human skeletal fragments, porcelain pieces, a smoking pipe, and various pottery fragments have been discovered at the excavation site.
The Magistrate has directed that these artifacts be preserved in the museum, and archaeology officials have been instructed to conduct further excavations at the site to uncover more insights into the historical context.
Archaeological officials have asserted that these findings likely belong to the Dutch colonial period.
Matara Police are conducting further investigations.
