The site of Mandan's $8 million south side water project to build a new reservoir remains idle as state and county officials continue to study what appears to be late 19th century Euro-American remains found there earlier this month.

It was confirmed last week that two caskets were visible and human remains were present when construction crews halted digging.

City Administrator Jim Neubauer said Monday afternoon the length of the construction delay for the water storage unit is difficult to predict.

He has been conferring with Morton County Sheriff Dave Shipman about how the remains uncovered will be properly handled. Shipman is the deputy county coroner.

"We are meeting with one of the local funeral homes," Neubauer said. "It all depends on if a move is made, what is the proper procedure … We have to determine what can and can't be done before we remove and move the remains."

He said the number of remains found will factor into the length of the delay.

Neubauer said Advanced Engineering also is meeting with Weigel Funeral Home.

Neubauer said all involved with the project will do an evaluation of where to proceed after they have come to a resolution.

"We do know the remains are going to be moved to the Union Cemetery," said Darin Meschke, director of Vital Records for the North Dakota State Health Department. He said his agency would have to issue permits for the move, but he said the total number remains unknown.

Mandan Mayor Tim Helbling said city officials have received little more information about how long delays will be for the project.

"We haven't pushed them. We want them to do what they they have to do to follow the law. We don't know anything else at this point," he said.

The North Dakota State Historical Society also is assisting at the site. The agency's chief archaeological director Paul Picha said all efforts are being made to treat the remains with dignity and to follow the Century Code in their reburial.

The site, located near the Sitting Bull Bridge area of the Heart River, and the known portion of the Greenwood Cemetery has been covered with tarp.