The Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Dept. is currently investigating human skeletal remains found Tuesday evening in New Cuyama.

As soon as weather permitted, deputies transported the bones to the county coroner for identification pending forensic tests. Sheriff’s Dept. spokesman Chris Pappas said the remains could be identified by early next week.

Although investigators do not yet know whether the bones belonged to a man or a woman or how long they had been at the location, Pappas said police are treating the case as a suspicious death.

A couple walking their dog discovered the bones in a ravine near Aliso Canyon Road in New Cuyama, about a mile and a half from Highway 166. New Cuyama is located in northeastern Santa Barbara County near the Kern County border.

Pappas said the bones were discovered in a very remote area.