Investigators examine bone with potential links to Joanne Ratcliffe, Kirste Gordon disappearance

A bone fragment that could provide crucial new leads in the decades-old disappearance of two young girls at Adelaide Oval is in the hands of authorities.

Authorities are examining a bone fragment that could provide new answers in the search for Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon, who vanished from Adelaide Oval in 1973.

It was earlier found by private investigators during an excavation on a property near Yatina previously owned by Stanley Hart, who had been linked to the case.

Police later ruled him out as a suspect.

Police are looking into a piece of bone that could be linked to the abduction of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon from Adelaide Oval in 1973. Picture: Nine News

On Wednesday, they told Nine News that if the bone is found to be human remains, further investigation should be undertaken to determine whether it is related to the disappearance of the two young girls.

Major crime detectives are currently in possession of the fragment, which is set to be forensically tested.

Joanne Ratcliffe, 11.

Kirste Gordon, 4, disappeared from Adelaide Oval with Joanne Ratcliffe 25 Aug 1973.

Forensic archaeologists earlier said they believed the fragment could have been a part of a small human pelvis and had called for DNA testing.

Joanne Ratcliffe was 11 and Kirste Gordon was 4 when they disappeared from Adelaide Oval during a SANFL match in 1973.

Originally published as Investigators examine bone with potential links to Joanne Ratcliffe, Kirste Gordon disappearance