Posted: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 10:26 AM - 11,523 Readers

By: Associated Press

A property fight over where the prehistoric skeleton of the so-called "Leanderthal Lady" was discovered in the 1980s has ended with the land returning to the original owner.

The Austin American-Statesman reported Monday that the dispute involved the Archaeological Conservancy. The skeleton, estimated by experts to be about 9,500 years old, was discovered on the shore of Lake Travis.

The land in 1991 was donated by the Wilson Land and Cattle Co. for preservation. Court records indicate attorney Will Wilson Jr. in 2005 took the land back, alleging the conservancy had not followed through to build an interpretive center for the public.

The Albuquerque, N.M.,-based conservancy sued and lost in 2007, appealed and lost again, then in August decided to drop the challenge, instead concentrating on using its funds on other sites.