A collection of ancient canoes, including one dating back 5,200 years, was discovered in Lake Mendota, revealing pre-Columbian maritime history in North America.
In June 2021, diver Tamara Thomsen from the Wisconsin Historical Society made a remarkable discovery while exploring Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin; she found a submerged single-piece canoe. Initially, archaeologists believed the canoe might be just 300 years old. However, radiocarbon dating revealed it to be 1,200 years old, surprising the team. This initial discovery marked the beginning of further explorations linked to the area's ancient maritime history.
By 2022, a second canoe retrieved from the lake was dated to be 3,000 years old, and subsequent examinations led to the uncovering of an additional 14 canoes, with six found in just 2025. The oldest canoe among these is an astounding 5,200 years old. This points to the existence of these ancient vessels long before significant historical milestones, such as the construction of the Egyptian pyramids, which occurred 400 years later, and the arrival of Europeans in North America, which happened over 4,000 years after these canoes were built.
The discovery sheds light on the sophisticated maritime activities of ancient peoples long before recorded history and highlights the importance of Lake Mendota as a site of prehistoric significance. It emphasizes the ability of native cultures to traverse water and transport goods, hinting at a more interconnected and advanced society in North America than previously understood.
