A man charged with cleaning a house for a mortgage company found more than just dirt and grime. He also found human remains.

Montezuma County Sheriff’s deputy Ryan Hancock was dispatched to a home on the 29000 block of County Road L in reference to human remains in a garage. Upon arrival to the scene on Saturday, June 6, several boxes of bones including two human skulls were discovered.

“There were a total of four boxes,” said Montezuma County Coroner George Deavers.

According to Deavers, the previous owner, now deceased, was known to have unearthed Indian artifacts from the property.

Deavers said that he receives similar calls about once a year, and it’s not uncommon, considering that the area is known as an archaeological hot spot.

Deavers said four boxes of human bones and skulls were found. One box was dated to the 1980s.

“We identified possibly six different individuals,” said Deavers. “Their ages are unknown.”

The remains were reburied Sunday on the property.

“The Colorado Archeology Society says for us to rebury the remains where they are found,” said Deavers.

Asked to describe the reporting party’s reaction, Deavers said the man wasn’t scared.

“He was more curious than anything,” said Deavers. “He’s not from here.”

Hancock reported the man was contracted by a mortgage company in New Jersey to clean the home.

tbaker@cortezjournal.com