Workers find mummified human body behind wall at old Oakland convention hall

March 10 (UPI) -- Construction workers in Northern California stumbled upon a grisly find when they were performing renovations recently on a convention facility in Oakland, officials said.

Crews have been performing the renovations at the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center, the Alameda County Sheriff's Office said.

Inside, one of the workers came upon a frightening find behind the drywall between two concrete pillars near the venue's concert hall -- mummified human remains.

The convention center has been closed since 2005 and had been undergoing remodeling for the past few years.

"The cavity where the individual was found was approximately 15 inches in width and 12 inches in height," Oakland Police Lt. Frederick Shavies said, according to KNTV-TV.

Shavies said the remains belonged to a man who probably died a long time ago, given their condition.

Investigators said they hope DNA and dental records will identify the body. If the hands on the body were preserved well enough, they might also be able to take fingerprints.

The convention center, which first opened in 1914, was being renovated as a multi-use space for artists and offices. While the city of Oakland still owns the facility, the city council reached a deal with Orton Development in 2015 for the redevelopment.