Human remains "several decades" old have been unearthed during construction at a lakeside home in east-central Minnesota, authorities said Tuesday.

The discovery was made about 10:30 a.m. Monday in the 15000 block of Sunset Trail, a road dotted with seasonal homes just west of Pine City, according to the Pine County Sheriff's Office.

"It appears the remains have been at that location for several decades," read a statement from the Sheriff's Office, issued late Tuesday morning. "Authorities are on the scene … and are in the process of removing the remains and attempting to determine whether the location is a historical burial site or something else."

Assisting in the investigation centered on land just east of Pokegama Lake are the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, the state archaeologist's office and a forensic anthropologist.

The homeowner was having the basement torn out, and the discovery of the bones occurred during "the process of lifting the house and taking down the existing basement walls," said Sheriff's Chief Deputy Rick Giese.

The search covers the full perimeter of the basement, Giese said, adding that the home was built in the 1950s.

Giese said investigators turning the soil are "trying to be really careful, going through this very methodically."

There have been no items, such as clothing, that have turned up so far in connection with the bones. The chief deputy said it's too soon to say whether the remains are from one person or more than one.

Those determinations, along with any identifying information such as age and gender, will come after the remains are moved to Hamline University in St. Paul for further examination.

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Sheriff's Office at 1-320-629-8380.

Paul Walsh • 612-673-4482