Police searching for missing Inverkip woman Margaret Fleming say they have been "encouraged" by the response to their appeal for information about her.
The last "independent sighting" of the 36-year-old, who was reported missing six weeks ago, was actually in 1999, police have said.
A garden is now being excavated in the search for her who was reported missing by her two carers from her home in Main Road, Inverkip, Inverclyde, on October 28.
Police say they are keeping an open mind but believe she "may have come to some harm".
Detectives from Police Scotland's major investigations team have established that, apart from her carers, the last independent sighting of Ms Fleming was at a family gathering on December 17, 1999.
Officers say she has few contactable friends or family and checks on education, employment, health and welfare records have shown no trace of her.
It is believed Ms Fleming lived with her father in Port Glasgow before he died in October 1995.
She then lived with her grandparents and mother but moved in with carers in 1997, and has been estranged from her mother since.
Specialist search teams have been "carefully sifting through the house" where Ms Fleming is believed to live with her two carers to find any documentation, clothing and personal items that could help in the search.
Specialist search teams including the police helicopter, dog unit and dive teams have also been searching across Inverclyde.
A spokesman for Police Scotland told BBC Scotland: "We're following up lines of inquiry. Officers remain at the house to continue the search and inquiries are ongoing".
Ms Fleming is described as 5ft 5ins with a heavy build, collar-length black hair and brown eyes.
When reported missing on October 28 she was said to be wearing a green tartan fleece or jumper, dark-coloured jeans or trousers, dark Karrimor boots and was carrying a satchel-type handbag.
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