11 Ancient Dugout Canoes Discovered in Wisconsin Lake Could Lead to a Long-Lost Village

11 Ancient Dugout Canoes Discovered in Wisconsin Lake Could Lead to
(Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Mohylek)

Nearly a dozen dugout canoes were unearthed at the bottom of a Wisconsin lake, according to a report, which suggests that archaeologists could have found a long-lost village.

Prehistoric Dugout Canoe Found in Lake Mendota

The Wisconsin Historical Society discovered the boats in Lake Mendota, estimated to be between 4,500 and 800 years old. The boats are made from a single tree, so they are called dugout canoes. After felling the tree and shaping the canoe, the aboriginal people used stone tools to remove the charcoal and burn the seating area to make the interior seem softer.

Among the preserved vessels, constructed from a single tree, were artifacts such as fishing nets and tools. The canoes were also found near a shoreline that has since sunk, indicating that the region was formerly home to a culture that has since been lost.

According to Bill Quackenbush, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the Ho-Chunk Nation, to see those canoes with their own eyes was a "powerful experience." The prehistoric boats reportedly served as a physical representation of extensive oral traditions that Native scholars only passed down over generations.

He added that they were eager to share the timeless tales and inventiveness of their ancestors and learn more from the site using the technology and resources available to them.

Excavations at the lake began in 2021, and archaeologists have discovered a boat that dates back 1,200 years, approximately 15 feet in length. Amy Rosebrough, Staff Archaeologist for the Wisconsin Historical Society, said in 2021 that the canoe was used for fishing on the lakes because they also found netsinkers inside. She added that those objects would have added weight to the bottom end of an anchored fishing line or floating fishing net.

Per Rosebrough of the 2024 discovery, working with the Native Nations to record, examine, and disseminate these fantastic historical tales is a privilege for their group. They thought an isolated discovery in Lake Mendota that caught their attention had grown into an important archaeological site that can teach us much about the people who have lived and prospered in the region for thousands of years. It also offers fresh evidence for substantial environmental changes over time.

It's possible that the Ho-Chunk tribe occupied the long-lost village in question. The Paleo-Indians arrived around Lake Mendota approximately 12,000 years ago and did not establish there until 800 AD, despite having lived there for a considerable amount of time.

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About the Ho-Chunk Tribe

The Ho-Chunk Tribe or Ho-Chunk Nation is an indigenous group once known as the Wisconsin Winnebago Tribe. Its ancestry dates back to prehistoric times. Explorers from early Europe gave the tribe this name. After adopting the current constitution in 1994, the tribe reverted to using its traditional name, Ho-Chunk, which means "People of the Big Voice."

The Ho-Chunk Nation is one of the most powerful Native American tribes in the country today because of its culture and beliefs, which have supported it for centuries. This group of 7,752 people has a strong foundation thanks to the tribe's elders and their dedication to handing down customs to future generations.