Jan. 19--Skull fragments found in a Fuller Park industrial building are human and were likely donated to science "long ago," according to the Cook County medical examiner's office.
The bones were found Monday morning as the floor was being dug up at the building in the 200 block of West Root Street, officials said.
"The 13 fragments of human skulls included cranial caps, bases of skulls that had been sectioned and mandibles," the office said in a statement. "The bones had been previously sawed in a manner consistent with dissection for teaching purposes and/or autopsy. One non-human bone was also examined."
The office said the building housed a biological specimen facility years ago.
A company called Biological Research Products once occupied the building. It was listed in a 1975 resource book for educators as a supplier of scientific materials and equipment.
The medical examiner's office said it did not plan to issue a death certificate or perform additional studies. The bones will be buried the next time the office disposes of unidentified remains.
