South Carolina tourists make chilling discovery that may be linked to centuries-old burial site Edisto Island
Possible Human Remains Unearthed on Edisto Island Beach
Updated May 29, 2025
A group of tourists made a startling discovery on Edisto Island, South Carolina, when they came across what appear to be human remains. The find occurred Friday near the site of the 19th-century settlement of Edingsville Beach, according to the Colleton County sheriff’s Office. Authorities believe the bones might potentially be from a long-lost burial ground.
The remains, which include a skull and scattered bones, have been collected for forensic analysis. County Coroner Rich Harvey told Newsweek that anthropologists will work to determine the age and origin of the bones. The timeline for this analysis remains unclear.
Edisto Island has a history of similar discoveries. In 2015, bones were found protruding from the mud, followed by the unearthing of a skull with intact teeth by a park ranger, according to the Edisto Island website. Those bones, including a cow skeleton, were dated to between 1865 and 1870.
The historic settlement of Edingsville Beach, once a fashionable summer retreat for Charleston’s elite, was established in 1825. It boasted around 60 homes,churches,a school,and other amenities. However, coastal erosion and the Civil war took their toll. Two major hurricanes in 1885 and 1893 ultimately destroyed the community.
What’s next
The forensic analysis of the newly discovered human remains promises to shed light on the history of Edisto Island and its long-vanished settlement. The inquiry may reveal more about the individuals who once called this coastal community home.