Members of the Shinnecock Indian Nation implored the Shelter Island Town Board last week to protect an ancient Native American gravesite that they say was wrongfully built upon and desecrated in recent months.

Town officials were receptive to the requests and said they would look into the dispute, which they blamed on miscommunication, and consider new legislation to protect Native American burial sites found in the future.

The remains of an estimated 10 bodies were discovered in October of last year when Walter and Susanne Richards of Shelter Island found human bones three feet underground on their Osprey Road property. The remains were found during excavation for a horse barn to be built at the site.

Shinnecock officials requested that the work cease after a forensic anthropologist determined that the centuries-old remains were likely those of Native American inhabitants of Shelter Island.

Both sides appeared to reach an accord at the time, as the Richardses agreed to preserve the site. But the Shinnecocks said the family reneged on the agreement after tribe members came to the site and found the barn under construction.

Ms. Richards confirmed that half of the barn had indeed been built last week. Neither she nor her husband were available for comment this week.

Tribe members packed the tiny Shelter Island Town Board meeting room on Friday, holding signs and asking for legislation to protect the Osprey Road remains and other Native American burial sites. "Desecration Is Terrorism" and "Respect Is Not Desecration" were among the messages on the homemade placards.

The Shinnecocks expressed their concern over the barn's construction and a general lack of concern for the protection of Native American archaeological finds.

Despite the strong messages on the signs, the exchanges between the Shinnecock tribal members and town officials remained cordial. Herman Quinn noted that the Shinnecocks had experience with battling Southampton Town but not Shelter Island Town. "As far as we're concerned, we have a clean slate with you," he said. "You have an opportunity here to right a wrong."

Tribal member Randy King noted that the Shelter Island logo depicted a Native American canoeing in ebbing sunlight. "Honor the memory of the Native American in your logo and let him rest in peace," he said.

Becky Genia held up a poster depicting Native Americans from the Pequot tribe the way they may have looked centuries ago. "We want to put a face to these remains," she said. "We are human beings. We have feelings. We have culture. We have heritage. We're not just garbage to be treated disrespectfully."

The tribe's attorney, George Stankevich, said he is in the process of drafting a proposed town ordinance that would seek to protect the gravesites. "To desecrate a grave in New York State is a felony," he told the board. "When I heard about this, I was sick to my stomach."

Mr. Stankevich, who is also representing the Shinnecocks in their push for a casino, said that all work at the site should be halted immediately so that law enforcement can investigate. "The Native Americans loved Shelter Island as much as we do today," he said.

Shelter Island Town Supervisor Arthur Williams agreed to consider legislation that would protect burial sites on Shelter Island and said that the town attorney would investigate the situation at the burial site. He suggested that the conflict was the result of poor communication between the Shinnecocks and the property owners.

Shelter Island Town historian Louise Green said a grave protection ordinance had been mulled as early as 1995, but that the plan withered. She took a passing shot at the Southampton Town Board's dealings with the Shinnecocks, saying that Shelter Island does not have to "follow their lead."

"We are not here to point fingers or blame anybody," Mr. Quinn said in conclusion. "We are here to heal."

A forensic anthropologist, Dr. Vincent H. Stefan, an assistant professor of anthropology at Lehman College in The Bronx, was called in to examine the site by the Suffolk County medical examiner's office in October. He determined this week that the remains most likely were those of Native Americans buried between 1410 and 1640. They are most likely members of the Manhasset tribe, which was a sister tribe of the Shinnecocks.

The remains of at least 10 adults, most adult males, were unearthed, but Dr. Stefan speculated that the burial ground could contain many more remains and could be much larger than the area excavated.

Typically, he said, artifacts are buried with Native American bodies to help date the remains, but no artifacts were discovered at the Shelter Island site. The absence, he said, may suggest that the deceased suffered through some sort of catastrophe or disease.

Dr. Stefan said it was clear from the way the bodies were buried—in a fetal position with their arms tucked under their chest facing to the west—that the burial was carefully executed.

Several Shinnecocks said that any new law should ensure that any additional remains found in the future should be protected from development.

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