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Photos: Dugout canoe recovered from Lake Mendota after 1,200 years
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Photos: Dugout canoe recovered from Lake Mendota after 1,200 years

  • BARRY ADAMS , 608-252-6148
  • Nov 3, 2021
  • Nov 3, 2021 Updated May 23, 2024

The canoe was discovered in June in 27 feet of water near Shorewood Hills.

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Randy Wallander, a volunteer diver from Manitowoc, unloads gear for the dive. Wallander specializes in bringing up sunken objects, usually in Lake Michigan.

ANDREW BRUNNER, WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Members of the dive team from the Dane County Sheriff's Office were among those who took part in Tuesday's dive near Shorewood Hills.

ANDREW BRUNNER, WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Dougout canoe

Dougout canoe

Divers prepare to remove a 1,200-year-old dugout canoe from Lake Mendota on Tuesday.

ANDREW BRUNNER, WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe
ANDREW BRUNNER, WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Divers converged on Lake Mendota Tuesday to recover a dugout canoe that hadn't been to the surface in 1,200 years.

ANDREW BRUNNER, WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist who discovered the Native American dugout canoe in June in Lake Mendota, celebrates the recovery Tuesday with Jim Skibo, Wisconsin's state archaeologist. The canoe was placed in an enclosed trailer for its trip from Spring Harbor Beach to the State Archive Preservation Facility on Madison's Near East Side.

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Spectators watch as a 1,200-year-oid dugout canoe makes its way across Lake Mendota to Spring Harbor Beach.

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

A 1,200-year-old dugout canoe was raised from Lake Mendota Tuesday by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The canoe was discovered in June during a recreational dive and is the oldest intact boat ever recovered from Wisconsin waters. The canoe will undergo preservation efforts over the next two years before it can be displayed in a museum.

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Spectators watch as a 1,200-year-oid dugout canoe crafted by members of the Native American Ho-Chunk tribe from Lake Mendota near Spring Harbor Beach in Madison, Wis., Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021. JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

A dugout canoe crafted in A.D. 800 was towed for most of its 1-mile trip to shore but guided by divers in shallow water for the final 100 yards or so to Spring Harbor Beach.

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Bystanders watch as yellow floats are used to bring a dugout canoe to Spring Harbor Beach. The 1-mile trip took nearly two hours.

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Randy Wallander, a volunteer diver from Manitowoc, unloads gear for the dive. Wallander specializes in bringing up sunken objects, usually in Lake Michigan.

ANDREW BRUNNER, WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Members of the dive team from the Dane County Sheriff's Office were among those who took part in Tuesday's dive near Shorewood Hills.

ANDREW BRUNNER, WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Divers converged on Lake Mendota Tuesday to recover a dugout canoe that hadn't been to the surface in 1,200 years.

ANDREW BRUNNER, WISCONSIN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Tamara Thomsen, a maritime archaeologist who discovered the Native American dugout canoe in June in Lake Mendota, celebrates the recovery Tuesday with Jim Skibo, Wisconsin's state archaeologist. The canoe was placed in an enclosed trailer for its trip from Spring Harbor Beach to the State Archive Preservation Facility on Madison's Near East Side.

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

A 1,200-year-old dugout canoe was raised from Lake Mendota Tuesday by the Wisconsin Historical Society. The canoe was discovered in June during a recreational dive and is the oldest intact boat ever recovered from Wisconsin waters. The canoe will undergo preservation efforts over the next two years before it can be displayed in a museum.

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

A dugout canoe crafted in A.D. 800 was towed for most of its 1-mile trip to shore but guided by divers in shallow water for the final 100 yards or so to Spring Harbor Beach.

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

Dugout canoe

Dugout canoe

Bystanders watch as yellow floats are used to bring a dugout canoe to Spring Harbor Beach. The 1-mile trip took nearly two hours.

JOHN HART, STATE JOURNAL

Locations

  • Madison

Related to this collection

Watch now: A 1,200-year-old dugout canoe is raised from Lake Mendota

Watch now: A 1,200-year-old dugout canoe is raised from Lake Mendota

The vessel was found in June in 27 feet of water and is the oldest intact boat ever discovered in Wisconsin waters.

After fatal diving incident, state archaeologist remembered for 'passion and enthusiasm'

After fatal diving incident, state archaeologist remembered for 'passion and enthusiasm'

The Wisconsin Historical Society said James Skibo had been on a routine dive near Shorewood Hills Friday morning. 

9 more dugout canoes found in Lake Mendota; 1 may be 4,500 years old

9 more dugout canoes found in Lake Mendota; 1 may be 4,500 years old

After two canoes were found in 2021 and 2022, archaeologists now say they have identified up to nine more from the same general location.

Lake Geneva News
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