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The Mississippi River has the lowest water levels in over a decade. And miles of dried riverbeds are being exposed. 

On Saturday, Crystal Foster and her family were collecting rocks. The family lives in Clarksdale. And they often scoured the riverbank for interesting collectibles. But this weekend they discovered a partial skeleton and called the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Office.

Authorities later confirmed they were human bones. They were examined by Scotty Meredith the Coahoma County, Mississippi Chief Medical Examiner. He reported that the remains include rib bones, a lower jawbone, and various unidentified bone pieces.

Meredith said they still don’t know how long the bones have been there. “We’ll know more about it once the anthropologist looks at it,” he said.

Bones found in Mississippi River 

There is no way for the medical examiner to know how long the bones may have been submerged. Meredith said they still don’t know how long the bones have been there. “We’ll know more about it once the anthropologist looks at it,” he said.

Meredith said the remains will need further analysis at the state crime lab. And Forensic specialists will attempt to extract DNA for identification to compare to missing person cases.

Foster and her family are still shocked by their find.

“I just hope that the MBI (Mississippi Bureau of Investigation) works quickly on this case and can identify the victim to the dental records at the very least so that way their family can get closure because that would bring me some peace at least,” Foster said.

Artifacts in drought-stricken areas

Human remains have been found in other areas that are hard-hit by the historic drought. And there have also been discoveries of sunken boats, cars and old warships.

The wreck of a century-old warship was discovered near Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Chip McGimsey, director of the state’s archaeology division, stepped says the department believes this is the Brookhill shipwreck. 

"We believe this is a ship that was manufactured in 1896 in Indiana for trade here. It was several years later when the Brookhill and its sister ship, the Istrouma, faced devastation.” 

On September 29th of 1915, there was a big storm… both ships sank,” McGimsey explained.

The Istrouma broke from the ferry dock, but the Brookhill stayed grounded. But much of it was destroyed by logs that crashed into it in the storm. 

The record low water levels are expected to continue. And more secrets that were once covered by water may be revealed.