1200 year old dugout canoe found in WI lake

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Marie13

Great Lakes Mermaid
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My cave/tech instructor was doing a fun DPV dive with a friend in Lake Mendota, Madison, WI in June. Thought they saw a log on a slope, about 30ft deep. Nope! Turned out to be a 1200 year old dugout canoe (it was C14 dated to 800 AD). Intructor’s day job is as a maritime archaeologist for the state of Wisconsin. Her finding the canoe was just a fluke! You might have seen this on the news as it’s been all over. What an awesome find! :D

They canoe was brought up Tuesday. It will be preserved and put on display in a few years in the new WI state history museum that should open in 2026 or so.

Yes, the local Native Americans were contacted. The Ho-Chunk tribal preservation officer was present. Great photo of him with the canoe.

 
If you’re on FB, WI Historical Society post with neat photos


They made the Daily Mail out of the UK. There’s a video complication that includes some underwater video of the lift.

 
Even the non-divers had to be put into drysuits for walking the canoe in the water. Even the local sheriff’s dive team helped. 3ft waves. Air temps in the 30s.
 

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