Ancient canoes recovered from Lake Mendota date back more than 5,000 years

LODI, Wis. (WMTV) -Archaeologists and First Nations have recovered sixteen ancient dugout canoes from Lake Mendota. The oldest is over five thousand years old.

The Lake Wisconsin Alliance hosted a presentation on Teejope’s ancient canoes to learn how past preservation can guide the future.

State Archaeologist Dr. Amy Rosebrough said the artifacts are a direct link to the people who came before us.

“The canoes help connect us to the past—everyone can imagine being in a canoe and paddling a canoe. They represent over 14,000 years of human presence—if not longer—in Wisconsin. It is all around us,” Rosebrough said.

For members of the Lake Wisconsin Alliance, protecting that history goes hand-in-hand with protecting the lake itself…

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