Opening of Pacific Street exit on Lighthouse Avenue delayed after ancient human remains found.

One finger bone. That's what it took to delay the re-opening of the Pacific Street exit from Lighthouse Avenue in Monterey by about two weeks.

The bone was found during construction on Sept. 11, less than a week after the city of Monterey closed the exit for an anticipated month's worth of work improving the exit and the area near the entrance to Lower Presidio Historic Park at Artillery Street. 

"The archaeologist on site stopped work on the project while the bone’s origin was determined and the Native American Heritage Commission was informed," according to a written statement from the city released on Oct. 2.

Work resumed on Monday, the day of the announcement. City officials said they expect the work to be completed in two to three weeks. The original projected completion date was Oct. 6.

Interim Public Works Director Steve Wittry says in an email that the bone was examined by the Monterey County Coroner's Office and a Native American representative. Both concluded the bone was Native American in origin.

The U.S. Army reported earlier this year that more than 300 Native American artifacts—including bones, tools and other objects—have been unearthed from Presidio grounds, mostly around Presidio Hill, located within the historic park.

The Pacific Street work includes new paving, enhanced street markings, ADA ramps, a crosswalk at Artillery Street, and new sidewalks, extending northward onto Lighthouse Avenue, which will be reduced to one lane during sidewalk construction hours at night.

It's financed by the Measure P 1-percent sales tax approved by voters in 2016.