Submerged beneath the waters of Madison’s Lake Mendota lies a treasure trove of ancient history. Among the remarkable finds is a canoe estimated to be over 5,000 years old, making it the oldest boat ever uncovered in the Great Lakes Region. This discovery is part of a total of 16 dugout canoes identified by the Wisconsin Historical Society, all located in a particular shallow area of the lake.
Could Lake Mendota Have Been an Ancient Canoe Hub?
The concentration of these ancient watercraft supports the notion that this site once functioned as a sort of aquatic storage space for dugout canoes. Over the millennia, Lake Mendota’s shoreline has shifted significantly. During a prolonged drought, the area was notably shallower, positioning it closer to the shore. Today, these canoes rest more than 20 feet underwater.
Archeologists suggest Indigenous peoples might have intentionally submerged their canoes beneath sediment to preserve them for future use. Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society, explains that being submerged under at least four feet of water would have protected the canoes from damage during harsh winters.
Thomsen, a seasoned diver, has been instrumental in locating many of these canoes. “What we’re seeing really is a parking lot,” she noted, describing the site as a potential hotspot for ancient maritime activity.
Ancient Ridesharing: Canoe Edition
Thomsen likens this ancient setup to modern-day bike-sharing systems. “You know, in Madison, we have these BCycle racks,” she said. “This is kind of the ancient equivalent of that.”
Rather than being personal property, these canoes likely belonged to entire communities and were strategically placed for easy access to trails and water routes. The layout of the canoes supports this theory, with the vessels arranged in two clusters near natural gullies that served as access points to the lake.
“There’s bluffs that are about 35 feet above the lake, and really the only access to get up and down to the lake is through those wash ways,” Thomsen explained. This suggests these pathways were used for centuries as entry points, which is why canoes were found nearby.
The canoes represent remnants of a sophisticated ancient network, providing a glimpse into the lives of interconnected communities who relied on these watercraft for transportation. Larry Plucinski, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, emphasized the significance of these finds: “They reflect a deep relationship with the environment and the ingenuity of our ancestors.”
Discovering the Past: Unearthing Lake Mendota’s Canoes
The exploration of Lake Mendota’s underwater relics began in 2021, when a 1,200-year-old canoe was retrieved from the depths. This was followed by the recovery of a 3,000-year-old vessel in 2022. The Wisconsin Historical Society has continued to uncover more canoes, with the total now standing at 16.
The youngest canoe found in the collection is 700 years old, made from red oak, while the oldest dates back to around 3,000 B.C.E. and was crafted from the same type of wood. The boats were constructed by felling trees and hollowing them out with fire and tools, a process that may have included deliberately scarring trees to induce water-resistant growths known as tyloses.
“Our emerging theory is that the ancient people would have had to, in some way, scar the tree over years, and maybe generations,” Thomsen shared, highlighting the resourcefulness of these early canoe makers.
The Future of Lake Mendota’s Submerged Fleet
While some of the canoes are too fragile to move and remain buried to protect them from invasive species, others are undergoing preservation processes. Two canoes, aged 1,200 and 3,000 years, are being prepared for display at the Wisconsin History Center, set to open in 2027.
Despite these significant discoveries, experts like Thomsen believe there may be even older canoes yet to be found. Florida currently holds the record for the oldest canoes in North America, but Thomsen is optimistic that future excavations in Lake Mendota could reveal vessels dating back 7,000 years.
Archeologists plan to continue their search when diving conditions improve next spring, hoping to uncover more of the ancient secrets hidden beneath Lake Mendota’s waters.
