Human remains found partially buried in sand at a beauty spot may date back to Roman times.
Police were called in on Sunday when a skull was spotted sticking out of mudflats at West Wittering near Chichester.
The grim discovery was made by a man who was walking along a coastal footpath.
Coastguards helped police recover the skull together with two pelvic bones and other pieces of bone.
Police divers are due to make a further search of the area for the remainder of the skeleton.
The remains were taken to Chichester mortuary and will be carbon dated to try to discover their age.
It is thought they could date back to the Roman invasion.
PC Tony Mayfield said: "The site is an old Roman burial ground and there have been six previous finds of human remains already carbon dated to that era."
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