Archaeologists have unearthed a remarkable 4,500-year-old canoe in a Wisconsin lake, alongside at least eight other ancient vessels, the Wisconsin Historical Society announced on May 23.
Believed to be the oldest canoe found in the Great Lakes, this elm-made artifact dates back to 2500 B.C. "What we initially considered an isolated discovery in Lake Mendota has evolved into a significant archaeological site," the society stated. This site provides valuable insights into the ancient peoples of the region and evidences major environmental shifts over millennia.
Previously, two other canoes were identified in Lake Mendota in 2021 and 2022, one dating back 1,200 years and the other 3,000 years. The initial discovery spurred follow-up expeditions, analyzed in collaboration with local Native American nations.
Bill Quackenbush, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation, remarked, "Seeing these canoes with one’s own eyes is a powerful experience, representing what we know from extensive oral traditions passed down through generations."
Archaeologists believe the canoes were stored in water to prevent wintertime freezing and warping, later becoming buried by natural forces. These canoes are concentrated along an 800-foot stretch of what was likely an ancient shoreline, submerged over time due to environmental changes.
However, the Wisconsin Historical Society noted that no further canoes will be recovered from this site due to its fragile condition, exacerbated by long-term exposure to natural elements, boating wakes, and water pollution. Archaeologists and Tribal Historic Preservation Officers determined that the remaining canoes are too delicate to withstand recovery and preservation efforts.
Lake Mendota is located in Madison, Wisconsin.
