Jawbone Discovery on San Clemente Beach Stuns Visitor

A jawbone with teeth, discovered by a visitor on Linda Lane Beach near San Clemente Pier, has been identified as human and believed to be of Native American ancestry. The visitor, Katherine Kinnison, found the remains sticking out of the sand while preparing to paint. Unsure at first, she took a photo and then reported it to lifeguards, not touching the discovery.

The Orange County Sheriff's Department confirmed the human nature of the remains. Due to their suspected Native American origin, likely from the historical Juaneño Band of Mission Indians, the Sheriff's Department transferred the findings to the Native American Heritage Commission for identification. This discovery is not isolated, as similar items have been found near Orange County beaches in the past year, indicating a recurring pattern.

Kinnison expressed hope that experts can ascertain more details about the individual, such as gender and age, and potentially link the remains to the historical population of the area. The Sheriff's Department noted that such findings are not uncommon in the region.