An El Dorado County resident panning for gold last week came across something unexpected. 

According to the El Dorado County Sheriff’s office the resident found a human skull at about 10:30 a.m. Feb. 10 near the Bear Creek picnic area off Traverse Creek Road. 

“While digging through the dirt, a partial suspected human skull was found,” the sheriff’s office said. “After contacting the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, detectives arrived and began their investigation.”

Because of the advanced decomposition, detectives called in anthropologist to assist in the investigation. No other body parts were found, the sheriff’s office said, and the investigation is ongoing.