Tom Taylor, a Pennsylvanian auctioneer, canceled an auction that was supposed to take place on Thursday after national outcry. Taylor was planning on selling a skull that is likely the remains of a soldier who fought in the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War.

According to the York Daily Record, Taylor, who works for the Estate Auction Co. in Hershey, was originally going to auction the skull alongside 13 other artifacts in a hotel in Hagerstown, Maryland. After a slew of criticism, including the U.S. Park Service calling the auction a "spectacle," according to YDR, the auctioneer and hotel manager changed their minds.

The Gettysburg Foundation said that the hotel manager contacted them about donating the skull. On Monday night, Joanne Hanley, president of the Gettysburg Foundation, accepted the donation.

"We are thankful to have the opportunity to honor what is very likely an American veteran and have his final resting place recognized," Ed W. Clark, superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park, said in a news release. "The outpouring of support, passion and concern from American citizens made the difference and a positive outcome was achieved."

According to the release, the Gettysburg Foundation and U.S. National Park Service will authenticate the skull as that of a soldier. Once that is confirmed, the Gettysburg Foundation will donate the skull to Gettysburg National Military Park. The Gettysburg National Military Park will then hold a proper military funeral in the historical town at Soldiers' National Cemetery.

"I am very honored that we can do this with the Gettysburg Foundation and the National Park Service so that the remains are properly handled and his service will be recognized," Taylor told the newspaper in a statement.

Taylor reportedly acquired the skull and the 13 additional artifacts a few months ago through a consignment sale. The pieces' handwritten notarized documents said they were discovered two miles from a barn that served as a hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg, Taylor said according to YDR. They were reportedly found in 1949, The Associated Press reports.

According to AP, Taylor said that "like the National Park Service told me, [the skull] should have a proper burial."
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Follow Scharon Harding on Twitter: @ScharHar.

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