Our Lakes, Our Science: Underwater Archaeology in the Great Lakes 

The Great Lakes are amazing ecosystems, areas of recreation, and gorgeous, unique landscapes. Below their waters, hundreds of archaeological sites can be found. While we most often think of historical shipwrecks, there are far older archaeological sites preserved in the Great Lakes. At the end of the last ice age, water levels in all five lakes fluctuated, and during a time of low stands, the water level in each lake was lower, and the lakes smaller. This means there was more dry land available, and people, plants, and animals were living on these ancient shorelines and landscapes. Using the latest sub-sea technology, archaeologists can explore these sites and learn about past lifeways in the region. In Lake Huron, continued research has documented 9,000-year-old hunting features, such as hunting blinds made of stone, and the remains of ancient tools. The preservation below the Great Lakes is remarkable – with rooted trees and peat bogs still intact. Join Dr. Ashley Lemke who will take on a journey back in time and below our Great Lakes to see what type of evidence her team has recovered. Learn about previous research in Lake Huron and how you can participate in new archaeological research below Lake Michigan. 

About the Speaker:  Ashley Lemke is an archaeologist and an Associate Professor at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. She received her PhD in Anthropology from the University of Michigan. An expert on submerged ancient sites, she has received grants from the National Science Foundation and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Her books include Anthropological Archaeology Underwater and The Architecture of Hunting. She has directed research projects in North America and below its waters, including in the Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean. She has conducted archaeological research in Europe in Germany, Spain, Romania, and Serbia. Lemke collaborates with Computer Scientists to explore applications of virtual worlds, artificial intelligence, and virtual reality for archaeological research and discovery. She previously taught at the University of Texas at Arlington, where she received the President’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, the Outstanding Teaching Award for Tenure Track Faculty, and was inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. Lemke is a past chair of the Advisory Council on Underwater Archaeology and Fellow of The Explorers Club.