A state forensic anthropologist has begun studying the human skeletal remains that were found Friday in south Forsyth.

The anthropologist is working with Forsyth County Sheriff’s investigators and crime scene technicians to discover the cause of death, as well as the person’s age and identity.

Sheriff’s Capt. Tim House said over the weekend that the remains likely had been in the wooded area off Bluegrass Valley Parkway for five to eight years.

The agency wrapped up its investigation of the site over the weekend.

"We’re waiting on the state to give us a forensic analysis on the bones and then we’ll know more," House said.

"But that could take weeks, months, before we hear anything. And then we’ve got to line that up with some kind of missing reports of other people in the area and local jurisdictions around us."

House added that the forensic anthropologist determined the bones are likely those of a Hispanic man, though she could not immediately provide an age.

The way the remains were scattered, it appeared an animal may have gotten to them at some point.

"You’ve got everything from coyotes to raccoons to wild dogs out there," House said. "Some of the [remains], for lack of a better term, were destroyed or desecrated."

A landscape architect looking for moss found the bones, which reportedly included a skull, about 3:15 p.m. Friday.

Staff writer Julie Arrington contributed to this report.