A prehistoric discovery of at least 11 ancient canoes found at the bottom of a Wisconsin lake could lead archaeologists to a long-lost village.
The Wisconsin Historical Society discovered the boats on Lake Mendota in the state’s north, dating between 4,500 and 800 years old..
Artifacts such as fishing nets and tools were also found among the preserved vessels, each of which was made from a single tree.
The canoes were also discovered along a coast that has since been submerged, suggesting that a previously unknown civilization once thrived in the area.
A prehistoric discovery of at least 11 ancient canoes found at the bottom of a Wisconsin lake could lead archaeologists to a long-lost village. Pictured is a 3,000-year-old ship in its original resting place.
“Seeing these canoes with your own eyes is a powerful experience and they serve as a physical representation of what we know from extensive oral traditions that Native scholars have passed down from generation to generation,” said the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Project. of Ho-Chunk Nation Law. Quackenbush.
“We are excited to learn everything we can from this site using the technology and tools available to us, and to continue sharing the enduring stories and ingenuity of our ancestors.”
While the Ho-Chunk tribe once lived in the area surrounding Lake Mendota, the Paleo-Indians were the first inhabitants to arrive about 12,000 years ago; The Ho-Chunk tribe migrated there no earlier than 800 AD
The boats are known as canoes because each was built from a single tree.
After cutting the tree and sculpting the canoe, the natives would burn the seating area and scrape the charcoal with stone tools to create a softer feel inside.
Archaeologists have been excavating the lake since 2021 and have discovered a 1,200-year-old ship. about 15 feet long, which was found in old fishing nets.
The ship was discovered 30 feet below the surface.
Crews pulled each canoe out of the water for further analysis, but won’t pull additional boats out of fear of ruining them.
The Wisconsin Historical Society discovered the boats on Lake Mendota in the state’s north, dating between 4,500 and 800 years old. In the photo there is a 3,000-year-old canoe.
While the Ho-Chunk tribe once lived in the area surrounding Lake Mendota, the Paleo-Indians were the first inhabitants to arrive about 12,000 years ago. The ships may have belonged to ancient civilization.
Amy Rosebrough, archaeologist at the Wisconsin Historical Society, told DailyMail.com in 2021: ‘The canoe was used to fish in the lakes, since inside we found a group of ‘net fishermen’.
“These objects would have loaded the lower end of a floating fishing net or anchored fishing lines.”
The canoe initially appeared as a log protruding from the surface, but archaeologists decided to conduct a deeper analysis with underwater scooters and divers, revealing the historic find.
A year later, the team pulled a 14-foot-long ship from depths dating back 3,000 years.
“Radiocarbon dating results indicated that the oldest canoe in the Lake Mendota cache is approximately 4,500 years old, making it the oldest canoe recorded in the Great Lakes, dating to around 2500 BC. and it’s built with elm,” the team shared in the announcement.
The four oldest canoes date from the Late Archaic period, 1000 BC. C. to 700 AD. C., and two from the 19th century. Middle Woodland Period that extended from 1000 AD to 1400 AD
The canoes were found with meticulously placed rocks on top and below the surface, which experts speculated was done to ensure the boats did not warp during the winter months.
Archaeologists have been investigating Lake Mendota (pictured) since 2021
The dating technique also determined that until four canoes dating from the Late Woodland Period, around 1000 BC
And the most recent one was found to be around 800 years old, from the Oneota period, built of red oak and dated to around 1250 AD
Ash, white oak, poplar and white oak were other species of trees used to build ancient ships.
The canoes were found with meticulously placed rocks on top and below the surface, which experts speculated was done to ensure the boats would not warp during the winter months.
The boats are known as canoes because each was built from a single tree. After cutting the tree and sculpting the canoe, the natives would burn the seating area and scrape the charcoal with stone tools to create a softer feel inside.
Ash, white oak, poplar and white oak were other species of trees used to build ancient ships.
The recovery team used flotation bags to lift the boats from the bottom of the lake and floated them underwater up the beach until they reached shore.
The recovery team used flotation bags to lift the boats from the bottom of the lake and floated them underwater up the beach until they reached shore.
“It was important to limit the amount of time the canoe was exposed to the outdoors to prevent physical deterioration,” Rosebrough said.
“We have a lot to learn from the Mendota Canoe Site, and the research being conducted today allows us to better understand and share the stories of the people who lived here and had a thriving culture here since time immemorial,” said Larry Plucinski, Bad River. Lake Superior Chippewa Tribal Historic Preservation Officer Band.
The Wisconsin Historical Society does not plan to recover any other canoes from the site due to their fragile condition after suffering prolonged exposure to natural elements and, later, man-made conditions such as water pollution and boat wakes.
“It is an honor for our team to work alongside First Nations to document, research and share these incredible stories from history,” Rosebrough said regarding the 2024 announcement.
“What we initially thought was an isolated discovery in Lake Mendota has become an important archaeological site with much to tell us about the people who lived and prospered in this area for thousands of years and also provides new evidence of important environmental changes. over time. .’
