A disturbing discovery by two young brothers playing near a South Carolina creek has sparked a death investigation after authorities say they uncovered a human skull and dozens of additional bones.
Anderson County deputies responded around midday Sunday after a mother reported her children had found what appeared to be human remains near a creek.
The boys, identified as Benson and Colton Saxon, called 911.
Deputies, detectives, forensic investigators and the coroner’s office responded, launching an extensive search of the area.
The coroner later confirmed the skull was human.
A search of the area led investigators to uncover roughly 45 to 50 additional bones believed to belong to one person.
Officials said the remains appear "pretty weathered," suggesting they are not recent and may be at least a decade old.
"I want to say that these remains are probably ten-plus years because of the roots that were around the bones and things like that," the coroner said, cautioning the estimate is preliminary, according to Fox Carolina.
The remains are believed to belong to a person between the ages of 15 and 25 and may have been carried downstream by the creek, foul play was involved.
An identity has not yet been released.
Officials are working with an anthropologist, cadaver dogs and additional law enforcement resources as the investigation continues.
Law enforcement sources told Fox News Digital the remains are believed to belong to one person, though the skeleton is incomplete.
The Anderson County Coroner’s Office and sheriff’s office continue to investigate.
Fox News Digital reached out to the coroner’s office for comment but did not immediately receive a response.