5,000-Year-Old Canoes Reveal Ancient Indigenous Secrets Beneath Wisconsin Waters
Ancient canoes hidden beneath Wisconsin’s lakes unlock centuries of Indigenous history, offering a rare glimpse into the past. 🌐 #News #MadisonWI #Wisconsin #Crime
MADISON, WI – A discovery deep underwater in Wisconsin has brought to light a piece of history that’s older than many might expect. In 2021, archaeologist Tamara Thomsen was diving in Lake Mendota, near Madison, when she spotted a decayed dugout canoe. Carved from a white oak tree about 1,200 years ago, the canoe was a rare and significant find. It marked the beginning of an ongoing project that’s uncovering a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the region’s Indigenous peoples—stretching back thousands of years.
A Dive into History: The Wisconsin Dugout Canoe Survey
Thomsen’s accidental discovery sparked a collaboration with archaeologist Sissel Schroeder, which led to the creation of the Wisconsin Dugout Canoe Survey Project. Their mission? To find, document, and study these ancient boats scattered across the state.
Dugout canoes, some of the oldest boats known to mankind, have been carved from logs for thousands of years, and the project has already identified 79 of these canoes, including some dating back to nearly 5,000 years ago. The finds are not only important for understanding the craftsmanship of ancient societies but also for tracing patterns of trade, travel, and environmental adaptation over millennia.
What started with a few canoes being cataloged quickly turned into a larger effort. While some canoes were kept within local tribal collections, others had been auctioned off or were kept in private hands. The discovery of each canoe, whether in a private collection or hidden beneath the waters of a lake, adds to a growing story of human ingenuity and the deep connection these people had with their environment.
Crafting the Past: Dugout Canoes and Indigenous Knowledge
Dugout canoes were more than just a mode of transportation; they were central to the survival and thriving of ancient Indigenous communities. In places like Dejope, today known as the Madison area, these canoes facilitated fishing, trade, and travel—vital components of life for the region’s Indigenous people, including the Ho-Chunk Nation.
Carving these boats was a communal task, often involving the entire village. The process of creating a canoe could take weeks, and once completed, it would serve the community for years, allowing access to resources and connecting them with other groups.
The materials used in crafting these canoes offer further insight into how Indigenous peoples adapted to their changing surroundings.
Researchers found that many of the canoes were made from a variety of hardwoods, including oak, elm, and hickory—trees that were chosen based on their availability and qualities, such as straight grain and durability. This shift in materials over time also reflected broader environmental changes, from dense oak forests to open oak savannas.
Uncovering a Living History: A Look at Modern-Day Research
While archaeologists like Thomsen and Schroeder dive into the past, their work is also bridging the gap to the present. Their research continues to uncover new finds, many of which are in surprisingly good condition, and their work is contributing to a greater understanding of the environmental and cultural history of the region.
In addition to underwater exploration, they use modern tools like photogrammetry, lidar, and carbon dating to analyze the canoes and track their age and origin. One of their most notable discoveries was a canoe carbon-dated to over 4,500 years old, a find that links these communities with ancient civilizations across the globe.
As the team uncovers these canoes, they are also collaborating with local Indigenous tribes, who have long-held knowledge of these artifacts. The Ho-Chunk, for example, have actively participated in the rediscovery of their ancestors’ history.
In recent years, tribal members carved and paddled a canoe across Madison’s four lakes, and in 2024, another traditional canoe will make its way down the Mississippi River. The continued involvement of local tribes is crucial to preserving the cultural heritage of these communities and strengthening the connection between the past and present.
As the project progresses, the researchers also collaborate with other states like Michigan and Minnesota, which are beginning their own canoe research efforts, inspired by Wisconsin’s success. Their work emphasizes the crucial role these ancient canoes play in understanding the region’s Indigenous history and shows that this submerged history is more than just a collection of artifacts—it’s a direct link to a rich and complex past.
RELATED TOPICS: Great Lakes | History | Indigenous | Michigan | Minnesota | Wisconsin
Editor’s note: Photos used for illustrative purposes only and do not depict the actual subject.
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