Human skull found at Cape Town lighthouse

A human skull was discovered at the Milnerton lighthouse in Cape Town by city law enforcement officers on Friday, a spokesman for the city said.

"City law enforcement officers were shocked earlier today when they discovered a human skull at the Milnerton lighthouse, while conducting routine patrols along the coast," spokesman for the city Wilfred Solomons-Johannes said.

The officers spotted the skull at around 12.45pm and identified it as human.

"According to the officers, the skull was lying on the surface of the sand and was slightly submerged."

Solomons-Johannes said in a statement that police were contacted and they handed over to the crime scene investigators.

The crime scene investigators removed the skull by 2pm and an inquest docket was opened.

"The officers could not tell how long the skull has been there or how old it may be."

It was unclear how long it would take an examiner to make a positive identification, or if it would even be possible, Solomons-Johannes said.