| Summary: | Late in the summer of 1979, human bones were unexpectedly uncovered during the construction of a septic system for summer cottages on Indian Neck, Wellfleet, Massachusetts. National Park Service archeologists, who were conducting a survey of the Cape Cod National Seashore, were contacted and the skeletal remains were identified as Native American . Construction had been halted when the bones were first noticed and it was determined that completion of the septic system would destroy the remaining area in which skeletal remains appeared to be present . Following consultation with the property owner, who could not modify plans in order to avoid the burial area, a decision was made to salvage the archeological deposits, including burials, which were observed. This decision was made in conjunction with Valerie Talmage, State Archeologist, and John Peters, Executive Director of the Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs. The property owner granted permission for the salvage excavation and delayed completion of his work for three days so that the archeological work could be done. With the concurrence of the Superintendent of Cape Cod National Seashore and with Native American observers present, a crew from the Cape Cod National Seashore Archeological Survey undertook the excavation.
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