A quiet lake in Wisconsin has just delivered one of the most jaw-dropping archaeological finds in recent US history. Researchers working with the Wisconsin Historical Society have identified 16 ancient wooden boats resting on the bottom of Lake Mendota, near Madison, and carbon dating suggests the oldest could be around 5,200 years old. That would place it centuries before the Great Pyramid was built in Egypt, reshaping timelines of early life and travel networks in North America. The discovery is not just about lost vessels, but evidence of long-term communities with deep knowledge of resources, mobility and engineering.
A US lake that kept its secrets for 5,000 years
The breakthrough began in 2021, when researchers recovered the first dugout boat believed to be about 1,200 years old. The following year, the team located a much older vessel dated to around 3,000 years, hinting that Lake Mendota’s lakebed held far more history than anyone expected.Since then, archaeologists have continued surveying the area using underwater mapping and diving work. Altogether, 16 boats have now been identified in Lake Mendota, with six of them found during spring 2025 alone.
How old are the boats?
Researchers used radiocarbon dating to estimate the age of the boats, which appear to span a long timeline. The oldest is believed to be about 5,200 years old, while the most recent is roughly 700 years old.In practical terms, that means people were building and using boats on this lake across millennia, not just for a single moment in the past. The oldest Lake Mendota boat is now considered the oldest dugout canoe on record in the Great Lakes region and among the oldest ever documented in eastern North America.The sheer number of boats found in one place is what makes this discovery so significant. Archaeologists say it offers rare physical proof that communities were not only present in the region for thousands of years, but were organised enough to maintain watercraft over long periods and likely share knowledge across generations.Lake Mendota sits within a landscape shaped by water routes, wetlands and seasonal resources. The discovery suggests the lake was not simply a local feature, but part of a larger system of movement, survival and connection.
What the clusters suggest about ancient travel
Researchers noted that the boats were found in two distinct groupings rather than scattered randomly across the lakebed. This detail has led to a major theory that the boats were strategically placed in locations that supported repeated travel and access to resources.Instead of being lost by accident, some may have been stored or left at designated points for convenient use. Archaeologists have compared this idea to a modern shared transport system, suggesting these boats may have served communities collectively rather than being owned by individuals.
Fishing, travel and survival on Lake Mendota
While each boat has its own story, researchers believe many were used for practical reasons that would have shaped daily life.One likely role was fishing and food collection. Lake resources such as fish would have been critical, and net sinkers found in some of the boats support the idea of active fishing practices.Another likely role was travel. Boats would have allowed movement between points of interest, shorelines and nearby communities more quickly than travelling on foot through rough terrain. Over time, this could have created a sophisticated network of mobility built around water.
The oak mystery that caught researchers off guard
Half of the boats were made from red oak or white oak, prompting researchers to ask why those trees were chosen. Oak is strong, but red oak in particular is not typically favoured for watercraft because it can absorb water more easily than other woods.The repeated appearance of oak suggests this was not random. It may reflect a deliberate choice by ancient builders, either because of availability or because they understood something about how certain trees behave under stress.
The science behind “water-resistant” oak
One of the key theories involves tyloses, which are natural outgrowths that can develop within a tree’s vessels. These structures can block the movement of water inside the wood.When present, tyloses can increase a wood’s resistance to water penetration and reduce the risk of rot over time. This has led researchers to explore whether the boat builders were selecting oak with favourable internal properties, making it far more suitable for long-term use in water than expected.
Did ancient builders manipulate trees on purpose?
Wisconsin Historical Society maritime archaeologist Tamara Thomsen has suggested it is possible the builders were intentionally choosing trees that had been damaged by weather, infection, or age, as these conditions can encourage tyloses formation. Another possibility is that trees were purposely wounded during growth to trigger the same effect.If supported by further evidence, it would point to an advanced level of material knowledge and environmental understanding, showing how ancient communities could influence natural processes to improve the performance of their tools.
Indigenous history at the centre of the story
Researchers have emphasised that this discovery must be understood through both scientific testing and cultural context. The boats are a powerful reminder of long-term Indigenous presence in the region and the expertise that allowed communities to thrive across changing climates and landscapes.Larry Plucinski, the tribal historic preservation officer for the Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, said the boats provide insight into an interconnected network of communities who relied on skill, knowledge and shared travel routes across waterways.The work in Lake Mendota is ongoing. Archaeologists are expected to continue mapping the lakebed, analysing wood samples, refining age estimates and exploring the meaning of the two groupings.With every new find, the picture becomes clearer. These boats are not just artefacts frozen in time. They are evidence of people who understood their environment, built for endurance, and used inland waters as routes for life, food and connection for thousands of years.
