In Madison, Wisconsin, on the shores of Lake Mendota, underwater archaeologists have discovered 16 ancient canoes, the oldest of which is about 4,500 years old. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the canoes, which belonged to Native Americans, are lying on the lakebed in a relatively compact area.
Marine archaeologist Tamara Thomsen notes that the find is located near the intersection of ancient Native American trails. This suggests that ancient people deliberately left the canoes there so that any traveler could use them. “This is a ‘canoe parking lot’ that has been in use for thousands of years,” Thomsen said.
The first canoe was discovered in 2021, about 1,200 years old, at a depth of 7 meters.
In 2022, three more were found, dating back to approximately 3,000, 4,500, and 2,000 years.
A total of 16 canoes have now been mapped.
Archaeologists believe that the site served as a community “boat dock” or “canoe sharing,” similar to the parking lots for electric scooters or bicycles in modern cities: travelers would leave their boats, pick up others, and continue on their way. Such “canoe parks” have been used for thousands of years, making them one of the oldest known community transportation systems in North America.
