Wisconsin diver finds 17-foot canoe in lake; tests show it is 1,000 years old
A diver in Wisconsin discovered a 1,000-year-old dugout canoe made of white oak at the bottom of Pewaukee Lake. The vessel, dating back to the Late Woodland period, will remain submerged to ensure its preservation.
Why it matters
This discovery provides significant archaeological insight into the history and maritime practices of Native Nations in the Great Lakes region.
An ordinary dive in search of old bottles has led to an extraordinary archaeological discovery beneath a Wisconsin lake. Mark Schachtner, a diver from Beaver Dam, spotted a partially buried 17-foot dugout canoe while exploring Pewaukee Lake in May. Radiocarbon dating has since established that the vessel is about 1,000 years old. According to the Wisconsin Historical Society, the canoe dates to the Late Woodland period and is made of white oak. The Society is consulting with Native Nations and archaeological experts to document the discovery, while the canoe will remain submerged rather than being removed from the lake.Diver searching for bottles finds an ancient canoeSchachtner has been diving in southeastern Wisconsin for about a decade and regularly explores lakes with the Four Seasons Dive Club, often looking for old embossed glass bottles.
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