Experts say that American history could very well be reauthored after archaeologists in the country discovered an “ancient civilization older than the pyramids,” per GB News.
Archaeologists Discover Vessel Older Than Egyptian Pyramids
Archaeologists from the Wisconsin Historical Society (WHS) who were working at a site on Lake Mendota have unearthed a prehistoric canoe that they say predates the Great Pyramid of Giza by roughly 700 years. The Great Pyramid of Giza is Egypt’s largest pyramid. It previously served as the tomb of pharaoh Khufu, who ruled during the Fourth Dynasty of the Old Kingdom. The pyramid is approximately 4,500 years old, while the canoe discovered in Wisconsin is roughly 5,200 years old. Six additional canoes were also found during the ongoing excavations.
Experts say that the discovery indicates that America was home to a “thriving” advanced civilization during the same period in which Egyptians were erecting the first pyramids. Excavations at the lake have been ongoing since 2021, with a total of 16 dugout boats so far located including a 14-foot vessel that’s approximately 3,000 years old. However, this latest discovery marks the oldest vessel found in Lake Mendota.
Discoveries Tied to Ancient Indigenous People
All of the boats were found clustered in the same general vicinity about 30 feet below the water’s surface. Most of the relatively newer canoes were constructed from an assortment of hardwoods, typically red and white oak. The oldest vessel that was most recently discovered was fashioned out of red oak, as well. Many of the boats were found overturned, with rocks arranged on top. Officials believe this was done to prevent the wood from warping during the colder months.
Tamara Thompsen/Wisconsin Historical Society
The discoveries have ties to the Ho-Chunk indigenous people, whose Paleo-Indian ancestors have been tied to the site since 12,000 years ago. “One of its springs, with its white clay bottom, is viewed as a portal to the spirit world,” said Amy Rosebrough, a WHS archaeologist. “For generations, the Ho-Chunk have honored this place through ceremonies of remembrance.”
“The canoes remind us how long our people have lived in this region and how deeply connected we remain to these waters and lands,” said Bill Quackenbush, the Ho-Chunk’s tribal preservation officer.
