Beneath Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, up to 11 ancient canoes have been found, some as old as 4,500 years. Since 2021, the Wisconsin Historical Society has been uncovering these relics, with the oldest being a record-breaker for the Great Lakes region. They reveal how Native Americans navigated and lived centuries ago. The first find, a 1,200-year-old canoe, came in 2021, followed by a 3,000-year-old one in 2022. Crafted from elm and red oak, these canoes cover a timeline from 2500 B.C.E. to 1250 C.E.
Native peoples likely sank the canoes near the shore each autumn to protect the wood over winter, raising them for spring use. Over centuries, changing shorelines from floods and sediment buried them, preserving them until today. Archaeologist Amy Rosebrough wonders if more canoes encircle the lake, hinting at undiscovered treasures. The oldest canoe, from the Late Archaic period, shows navigation skills long before farming or mound-building.
These canoes likely belonged to ancestors of the Ho-Chunk Nation, their names lost to history. Some are from the Middle Woodland period, with early farming and trade, while others come from the Late Woodland period, marked by corn and mounds, or the Oneota period’s villages. Ground-penetrating radar helps study the canoes without damage. The first two will be preserved at Texas A&M University and shown at the Wisconsin History Center in 2027.
The most fragile pieces stay submerged to avoid harm. Ho-Chunk Nation’s Bill Quackenbush says the canoes make oral histories feel real, linking modern tribes to their past. These finds highlight centuries of travel and ingenuity. A canoe feels familiar, letting us imagine its makers’ lives. The Wisconsin Historical Society plans sonar mapping to find more relics. These canoes bridge thousands of years, showcasing Native peoples’ lasting legacy in the Great Lakes.
