A hiker in San Bernardino County found remains later identified as a human skull Wednesday morning, authorities said.
The explorer was near Twentynine Palms around 7:30 a.m. when he came across the unidentified remains, according to the San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department.
After the discovery, the hiker made an emergency call and deputies from the sheriff's Morongo Basin station confirmed the discovery and requested assistance from homicide detectives.
The department sent detectives from its specialized investigation division, who were joined by forensic division investigators and other crime scene specialists, according to the Sheriff's Department.
The skull was recovered during a search carried out by the police group. Authorities said he had been exposed for an extended but indefinite period of time.
The Sheriff's Department said it would conduct a forensic examination. DNA collected at the scene is also being analyzed.
A Sheriff's Department spokesman said Wednesday night that if the skull is not identified, the remains would remain as evidence, waiting for someone to file a missing person's report. If not identified, the case would be closed.
The Sheriff's Department asks anyone with information to call (909) 890-4904.
