Skull found at Oakland homeless camp is American Indian

Oakland police examine a homeless encampment at 7th and Castro streets, where an apparent skull was found on Jan. 8, 2015 Oakland police examine a homeless encampment at 7th and Castro streets, where an apparent skull was found on Jan. 8, 2015 Photo: Henry K. Lee Photo: Henry K. Lee Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Skull found at Oakland homeless camp is American Indian 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

A human skull found at a homeless encampment underneath an Oakland freeway is that of an American Indian, authorities said Friday.

The skull was found about 1 p.m. Thursday when police and Caltrans crews were clearing the encampment near Seventh and Castro streets underneath Interstate 980.

A man came from inside his tent with the skull, prompting Oakland police to question him. A freshly dug hole was nearby.

The man shooed away reporters, declining to discuss the skull or give his name.

The Alameda County coroner’s office consulted with a forensic anthropologist, who determined that the skull was of American Indian origin, but little was known about who it belonged to or where it came from.

Henry K. Lee is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: hlee@sfchronicle.com