eBay, the online auction web site, is famous for postings of hard to find and collectable merchandise. Items to tickle the fancy of the oddest collectors, such as celebrity-chewed bubble gum, photographs of a still living Elvis, and even random pairs of old underpants, can be bought for a price. Yet, one Michigan woman attempted to sell the mummified remains of a human on eBay, causing the auction giant to yank the item. The mummy was confiscated by Clair County medical examiners on Tuesday, and Michigan officials are attempting to determine the origins of the remains.

Lynn Sterling, the entrepreneurial woman responsible for the posting, told police officials that she had acquired the mummy for an old friend who had worked on a demolition project 30 years ago. Lynn stated that she had spoken with an attorney regarding the matter before posting the remains.

In a comment made to the Port Huron Times, Lynn stated, "It's an anatomical, medical use skeleton. I would never have put it on (eBay) if I thought it was anything other than an anatomical, medical thing."

According to one medical examiner involved in identifying the source and identity of the mummy, the auctioned item was an intact skeleton with segments of mummified tissue.

"It's very, very old. It's probably some type of anatomical dissection that was part of an anatomy class that over time got into the hands of somebody in the general public," the examiner explained.

eBay removed the auction on Wednesday adhering to its policy never to sell human remains. Nevertheless, the short-lived auction received at least one bid of $500 from a would-be-buyer.

Port Huron Police Capt. Don Porrett commented that Lynn would likely face no charges.

The mummy has been sent to anthropologists at Michigan State University for further examination.