Tucson, United States: A search volunteer discovered 1,000-year-old prehistoric human bones in an ephemeral riverbed near Tucson on May 7 during a private search for a missing local resident.
A forensic analysis confirmed that the skeleton dates back more than one millennium and has no connection to the disappearance of 84-year-old Nancy Guthrie, according to local authorities.
The remains were located in the Sonoran Desert, less than five miles from Guthrie’s home in the Catalina Foothills.
Nancy Guthrie, the mother of “Today” show co-host Savannah Guthrie, has been missing since early February.
The unexpected discovery initially disrupted volunteer search operations, but investigators later verified the remains’ archaeological nature.
Local geographic experts noted that the regional desert terrain and periodic flooding regularly expose historical burial grounds.
Read: Empedocles Lost Text Discovered in 2,000-Year Papyrus
The search for Nancy Guthrie remains active, with a reward fund exceeding $1.2 million for information leading to her location.
Family members posted a public statement on May 10 affirming that private search efforts will continue indefinitely.
