There is indirect evidence that Wisconsin’s inland waterways have been used as transportation corridors and to collect resources since the region was first occupied. Up until recently, however, the earliest evidence of a dugout canoe dates to about AD 250. Recent discoveries from Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin, demonstrate that water transportation extends back over 3,000 years. In September of 2022, a 1,000 B.C. canoe was recovered in 25 feet of water, and in November of 2021, Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Anthropology Dr. James M. Skibo and his team recovered a canoe that dates to A.D. 800.
Join the Sociology and Anthropology Department as Skibo shares some new discoveries since he has been the state archaeologist of Wisconsin. This presentation will examine the recent documentation and recovery of the Lake Mendota dugout canoes and discuss how these findings have led to a reinvestigation of the region’s climate and lake levels 3,000 years ago. Data from this research and analysis is a preliminary step in understanding Wisconsin’s prehistoric maritime landscapes and the people who lived in this region.
Bring your lunch. This talk is free and open to all on Friday, December 2, at noon in Schroeder Hall 114. It will be made available via Zoom with a meeting ID of 949 3735 5641.
