Discovery of what’s believed to be human remains spark police probe, crime scene in Hinterland

Testing has determined the origin of a mysterious skull found at a popular Gold Coast hinterland national park hiking trail, solving the mystery, but the answer has created a whole new series of questions.

Police searching in the Gold Coast hinterland after the discovery of a human skull.

Testing has determined the origin of a mysterious skull found at a popular Gold Coast hinterland national park hiking trail.

A bushwalker made the macabre discovery last Friday, sparking a full-blown police investigation involving a meticulous search of bushland looking for more evidence of human remains.

Initial analysis was inconclusive as to the origin of the skull, which was discovered nestled on top of undergrowth 10 metres from a trail at Springbrook National Park.

However, further testing has revealed the skull is indeed human, but most likely a museum artefact potentially hundreds of years old.

Markings on the skull suggest it has at some stage been in the hands of archaeologists, leading police to conclude the skull belonged to an educational facility such as a museum and was not part of a grisly crime.

Further investigation will be conducted to locate the rightful owner of the skull, with police not yet ruling out post-mortem examinations, depending on the skull’s origins.

No further bones were discovered, with the skull sent to forensic pathologists for analysis.

Police believe the skull was placed in the scrub just metres off a popular walking trail and there was no evidence to suggest any crime took place there.

A walker made the grim discovery of the skull on Friday at the Best of all Lookout at Springbrook National Park, with police and SES spending the next 24 hours combing the scene for clues.

However, no evidence of foul play or any further bones were discovered apart from what appeared to be a human skull sitting on top of the forest undergrowth just metres off a walking track.

Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon from Gold Coast Police said earlier on Monday that things would become clearer after analysis from experts.

“It appears to be a small human skull (but) it could be a movie prop or it could be from a museum,” he said.

“If it was foul play someone would most likely have done a better job of hiding it.

“But we need to get to the bottom of it.

“There will be family and friends (of missing persons) who would need closure.”

Police searching in the Gold Coast hinterland after the discovery of a human skull.

Originally published as Discovery of what’s believed to be human remains spark police probe, crime scene in Hinterland