Ancient Discovery in Fayette County

4,200-Year-Old Skull Fragment Found Along Whitewater River

This may not be Garrett County news — but we found it incredibly interesting and had to share.

The Fayette County Coroner’s Office in Indiana has confirmed that a fragment of human skull discovered in June along the Whitewater River has been dated to approximately 4,270 years ago — around 2300 B.C.

The small piece of bone was found by a landowner on June 2, 2025, who quickly alerted authorities. The fragment was examined by experts from the University of Indianapolis Human Identification Center in partnership with the University of Georgia, where radiocarbon testing placed its age at more than four millennia old.

Coroner Eddie Richardson called the find “a powerful and humbling reminder that people have walked this land for thousands of years.”

The remains, believed to belong to an adult individual, showed no signs of trauma and are now part of an official review process with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and tribal partners to ensure they are handled with respect and in accordance with state and federal guidelines.

While this discovery occurred several hours west of Garrett County, it offers a fascinating glimpse into the ancient human presence that once spanned across the Midwest — long before written history.

A powerful reminder that our shared story runs deeper than any modern border.