A federal investigation has been launched after piles of human remains were found in the Nevada desert.
Dozens of piles of cremated remains were discovered by a passerby on July 28, alongside zip ties and what appeared to be the remains of an urn, further deepening the mystery.
Analysis of the ashes found that they were indeed human, which have been called by the official term 'cremains' by federal representatives.
No identifying information was found alongside the ashes, which were weathered from rain and sun.
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Images from the site show the cremains in neat separated piles despite the effects of the elements.
Federal agency the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is now working alongside the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department to investigate the macabre discovery.
The remains were found on a dirt road outside Searchlight, Nevada, a rural community located about an hour's drive south of the Las Vegas valley.
Spreading ashes on federal land is not a crime, however, what is a crime under Nevada law is 'failing to dignify the dead', according to a report from 8 News Now.
This requires funeral operators to protect the dignity of human remains.
The BLM oversees huge swathes of land in the United States, with one in ten acres falling under the agency's management.
In a memo released in 2011, the BLM explained that commercial entities, for example a funeral home, are prohibited from disposing of cremated human remains on land managed by the BLM due to the quantities of remains involved.
The memo said: "Cremated remains are not considered a hazardous substance.
"However, the quantity of material associated with commercial distribution of cremated remains could preclude other land uses and may require designation and regulation of land as a functioning cemetery.
"This could require disposal of parcels of public land under appropriate authorities because the BLM does not manage functioning cemeteries."
While commercial organizations are prohibited, the BLM also clarified in the memo that families and individuals can approach the organization about scattering a loved ones' ashes on BLM managed land.
"Inquiries from individuals and families to scatter cremated remains should be handled on a case-by-case basis," the memo stated.
Under Nevada law, there is also no rule barring someone from scattering ashes on publicly owned land.
8 News Now reports that there is no connection between the ashes and a recently closed funeral home.
UNILAD has contacted the Bureau of Land Management for comment.
Kit Roberts