A groundbreaking archaeological discovery in a Wisconsin lake has uncovered evidence of an advanced prehistoric culture in America, existing contemporaneously with ancient Egypt.

Researchers have identified six newly discovered canoes in Lake Mendota, one of which dates back approximately 5,200 years—predating the Great Pyramid of Giza, which is at least 4,500 years old.

Since 2021, the excavation efforts in the lake have yielded a total of 16 ancient ‘dugout’ boats, meticulously crafted from single tree trunks. These boats were fashioned using fire and rudimentary tools such as stones and shells.

Radiocarbon dating, which measures the decay of naturally occurring radioactive elements in the wood, has determined that these canoes were constructed between 1300 AD and 3000 BC.

This revelation points to a previously unknown civilization that flourished in the region for millennia, engaging in activities such as trade, fishing, and possibly spiritual expeditions, facilitated by an intricate network of travel routes throughout what is now the Midwest.

According to researchers from the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS), these findings significantly alter our understanding of North American history, indicating that humans on the continent established organized communities much earlier than historians previously believed.

The canoes, found 30 feet below the surface, were found in clusters near natural paths, suggesting the lake was a busy spot for generations.

The oldest boat recovered from Lake Mendota places the ancient ancestors of a group known as the Ho-Chunk on the same timeline as some of the Egyptians in terms of showing how long ago human boat-making skills were developed worldwide. 

The boats in Lake Mendota are known as dugout canoes because each was constructed out of a single tree trunk

A new excavation of the Wisconsin lake discovered six previously unseen canoes, including one that is believed to be older than the Egyptian pyramids

So far, only two of the 16 canoes located in Lake Mendota have been taken out of the water and are nearing the end of a multi-year preservation process, including a 14-foot-long boat that’s approximately 3,000 years old. 

These ancient dugout vessels were mostly made from tough hardwoods such as red and white oak, including the oldest, dating back to the time of the Egyptians, and were carved from the trunk of a red oak.

The WHS team noted that using oak was unusual because red oak typically absorbs water through the tree’s open pores, which could make boats heavier or less buoyant.

However, it’s believed their mysterious builders may have prepared trees to form natural blockages, called tyloses, in the wood that seal it against water, rot and improve floating.

Archaeologists suspected that the native people of the area selected stressed or damaged trees, or intentionally wounded them while growing, to produce these more resistant tree trunks. 

Maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen said: ‘Archaeology is kind of like putting together pieces of a puzzle, and the more pieces you can find, the better you can start to form a picture of what was going on and why during a period of history.’

‘We can’t go back in time to get answers to our questions, but we can examine the available data alongside knowledge from First Nations and cultural history to form theories to answer our questions.’

The canoes were found with rocks meticulously placed on top, while below the surface, which experts speculated was done to ensure the boats did not warp during the winter months.

The discovery of ancient boats in Wisconsin has rewritten the timeline of sophisticated civilizations living in North America

Archeologists have pulled two of the 16 canoes from the lake and are working on preserving them for a future museum exhibition

Archaeologists have been investigating Lake Mendota since 2021 

While the Ho-Chunk tribe once lived in the area surrounding Lake Mendota, the Paleo-Indian people were the earliest inhabitants, arriving around 12,000 years ago. 

The Ho-Chunk tribe migrated there no earlier than 800AD.

This discovery of ancient canoes in Lake Mendota has been deeply significant to the Ho-Chunk people because it proved their ancestors lived in this region for thousands of years, strengthening their ongoing cultural and spiritual connection to the waters and lands.

The Ho-Chunk view the nearby Lake Wingra, which this ancient community likely traveled across by canoe, as holding profound spiritual importance, with one of its springs seen as a sacred gateway to another realm.

Dr Amy Rosebrough, state archaeologist for WHS, said: ‘One of its springs, with its white clay bottom, is viewed as a portal to the spirit world. For generations, the Ho-Chunk have honored this place through ceremonies of remembrance.’