Queensland police are appealing for information from residents who lived in a regional Tableland town in the 80s, after the discovery of human remains led to a surprising twist.
Police responded to reports that bones had been found during excavation works on John Street in the rural town of Herberton on June 5.
But once police attended the scene, they realised the discovery was not what it initially seemed.
Police believe the remains that were found belong to a teaching skeleton.
Investigations are still ongoing and police have appealed to residents for more information.
“Police are appealing for anyone who knows of any residents who lives on John Street prior to the 1980s or has information relating to the historical use of teaching skeletons in Herberton,” police said.
“There are no suspicious circumstances.”
Modern teaching skeletons are now made from artificial bones, but in the past they were commonly made from real human remains.
Prior to the 1980s, India was the largest exporter of human teaching skeletons until 1985 when the country banned the export.
Skeletons would be chemically cleaned before being reconstructed and sent to schools and universities for teaching purposes.