Skeletal remains found by a bushwalker near Lee Point Beach on Wednesday afternoon are being forensically examined by medical experts and a crime scene has been established, the NT Police said.

Police were called to the scene around lunchtime on Wednesday after the human remains were discovered and have been “painstakingly” processing the scene with medical experts, including a forensic pathologist.

“To date a large number of bones, including a skull, have been recovered,” said Detective Acting Superintendent Karl Day.

“Further analysis will be undertaken by forensic specialists and until that time we cannot expand further.”

Police did not say how long they suspected the bones had been there, or if they belonged to a man or a woman, or when they suspect the person died.

Supt Day later in the day said it was impossible at this time to provide a timeline of the body, but said it did not appear there had been any trauma on larger bones.

“There’s no indication of any trauma to the skull and there’s no indication of any trauma to any of the larger bones on our first look,” he said.

“They’ve now retrieved numerous human bones from that site, and they will be subject to ongoing forensic testing and analysis in order to time-stamp it and hopefully work towards identification.

“At this early stage it is probably impossible to give an accurate estimation of time line.”

The remains were found in a heavily wooded area in bushland a large distance away from the car park at the beach.

Police are asking anyone with information about “this person’s death” to contact police on 131 444, quoting reference number 10129744.