Archaeologists in Wisconsin have uncovered ancient dugout canoes, some as old as the Egyptian pyramids. These discoveries offer fascinating insights into millennia of Indigenous history and their enduring connection to America’s waterways.
By Julian James
A Remarkable Discovery
In 2021, maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen spotted the end of a dugout canoe while diving in Wisconsin’s Lake Mendota. The canoe, carved from oak and dating back 1,200 years, spurred the launch of the Wisconsin Dugout Canoe Survey Project. Since then, researchers have cataloged 79 dugout canoes, some dating as far back as 4,500 years. These finds reveal the essential role canoes played in Indigenous life, enabling fishing, trade, and transportation across vast distances. The creation of dugout canoes was a communal effort, requiring weeks or months of work using shells or stone tools. Once complete, the boats became shared resources, vital for the survival and prosperity of Indigenous communities.
Combining Technology and Tradition
Researchers are using cutting-edge methods like carbon dating, dendrochronology, and strontium isotope analysis to examine the canoes and their origins. Remarkably, many were crafted from hardwoods like oak and elm, demonstrating the adaptability of Indigenous groups to changing environmental conditions. Artifacts found alongside the canoes, such as net sinkers and woodworking tools, further illuminate the technological ingenuity of these societies. These discoveries highlight the deep connection between daily life, resourcefulness, and cultural innovation.
Lost Shorelines and New Discoveries
A significant aspect of the project is mapping ancient shorelines. Near Lake Mendota, archaeologists uncovered a cache of ten canoes along a now-submerged ridge, indicating how Indigenous communities adapted to environmental changes. This area, known as Dejope in the Ho-Chunk language, was once a thriving cultural hub. The renewed interest in dugout canoes has inspired modern Indigenous communities to reconnect with their heritage. In 2024, members of the Ho-Chunk Nation carved and paddled a traditional dugout canoe down the Mississippi River, symbolizing the enduring strength of their cultural identity.
A Window to the Past
Dugout canoes provide a tangible link to ancient Indigenous history, illustrating the balance between cultural traditions and environmental adaptation. Their design, unchanged for millennia, speaks to the ingenuity of their creators.
These discoveries have sparked interest beyond Wisconsin, inspiring other states to catalog their own canoe archives. They serve as a reminder of the enduring stories hidden within America’s lakes and rivers, waiting to be uncovered.
Based on content from www.smithsonianmag.org and own research.