Divers Find Dugout Canoe Believed to Be 1,000 Years Old in Pewaukee Lake
Divers have discovered a dugout canoe believed to be roughly 1,000 years old on the bottom of Pewaukee Lake in southeastern Wisconsin, Smithsonian magazine reported on October 6. The find is the latest in a remarkable run of ancient canoe discoveries in Wisconsin lakes.
The dugout — carved from a single tree trunk — was spotted by divers exploring the lakebed and reported to the Wisconsin Historical Society. Preliminary assessment suggests it dates to around the 11th century, though carbon dating will be needed to confirm its age. The canoe is remarkably well preserved, thanks to the cold, low-oxygen conditions at the lake bottom.
Wisconsin has become a hotspot for ancient canoe finds: in recent years, similar dugouts were recovered from Lake Mendota near Madison, some dating back more than 3,000 years. Archaeologists say the vessels offer a window into how Native peoples traveled, fished, and traded across the region's waterways centuries before European contact.
The Wisconsin Historical Society said the canoe will be carefully recovered and studied, with plans to eventually display it to the public. Officials have not disclosed the exact location to protect the site from looters.
(Source: Smithsonian magazine)
Source: Smithsonian magazine
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Ellie308，CC0（Wikimedia Commons）
