Skull fragment found by Whitewater River is 4,200 years old

A mysterious skull fragment found on an Indiana riverbed over the summer turned out to be incredible instead of incriminating — with forensics determining it was more than 4,000 years old.

The fragment was found in an eroding bank of the Whitewater River in Fayette County in June by a local landowner, who quickly notified local law enforcement and prompted an investigation.

Officials shipped the skull piece off to the University of Indianapolis Human Identification Center, which called on the University of Georgia for further help.

The skull fragment was about the size of a hand, and came from the back of an ancient Native American’s head. Fayette County Coroner's Office

And their findings were remarkable — rather than being a missing John or Jane Doe , the fragment turned out to