MIDDLEBURG, Fla. -- A special prosecutor with the State Attorney's Office has opened an investigation into the clearing of property in the 3700 block of Main Street in Middleburg that historians say contained a 1800s-era burial ground.

Members of the Clay County Historical Commission called the sheriff's office after arriving at the site Saturday and finding that bulldozers had gone through the property, clearing trees and shrubs, scattering grave markers.

"It's a military cemetery. There are marines and Army personnel here from the second Seminole war -- the 1830s and 40s," said " Dr. Cynthia Waddell. "There are at least two slaves buried here. There's at least one Native American buried here. Plus, the ancestors of local families."

Waddell said the property is registered with the state as an archaeological site, and disturbing it was illegal.

The property was recently sold, but terms of the sale included a half-acre "passive preserve" in the area of the cemetery, according to the Clay County Sheriff's Office incident report.

The historical commission told the local station's Emily Pantelides tried to get county to acquire the property, but were unsuccessful.

Deputies were unable to reach the property owner, Keith Webb, over the weekend, but told his wife that an investigation was being conducted and stop any work on the property until contacted by the sheriff's office.

Two bulldozers were still on the property Saturday, but no work was being done.