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A Layered Approach for the Discovery and Mapping of Prehistoric Sites Beneath Lake Huron

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A Layered Approach for the Discovery and Mapping of Prehistoric Sites Beneath Lake Huron PAPER A Layered Approach for the Discovery and Mapping of Prehistoric Sites Beneath Lake Huron AUTHORS ABSTRACT ’ John M. O Shea For much of modern human history (roughly the last 200,000 years), global Museum of Anthropological sea levels have been lower than present. As such, it is hardly surprising that Archaeology, University of Michigan archaeologists increasingly are looking to submarine environments to address Ashley K. Lemke some of their most pressing questions. While underwater archaeology is most Department of Sociology and commonly associated with shipwrecks, the search for submerged prehistoric Anthropology, University of Texas sites presents an entirely different set of challenges, even though many of the at Arlington same technologies are used. For Great Lakes archaeologists, the problem is how best to adapt the range of available seafloor mapping and testing techniques to the problem of identifying prehistoric sites, while operating with smaller ves- sels and the limited budgets available to “normal” archaeology. In this paper, we Introduction briefly describe the approach we have developed at the University of Michigan for t recently has been noted ( Joy, identifying 9,000-year-old caribou hunting sites beneath Lake Huron. The 2020) that, for 90% of modern research employs a layered research design integrating sonars, remotely operated I fi human history (roughly the last vehicles (ROVs), and scuba divers at progressively ner scales to discover and 200,000 years), global sea levels have investigate these important new archaeological sites. been lower than present. As such, it is Keywords: underwater archaeology, Great Lakes, sonar hardly surprising that, from Southeast Asia to the North Sea, Beringia, and South Africa, archaeologists are look- underwater to document this critical historic sites, which are often small ing to submarine environments to ad- period of climatic and cultural change. and comprise only stone tools and an- dress some of their most pressing While underwater archaeology is imal bone, the setting of the seafloor is questions. The Great Lakes in North most commonly associated with ship- critical since it represents the once dry America saw similar oscillations at the wrecks, the search for submerged land surface and environment on which beginning of the Holocene, varying prehistoric sites presents an entirely the ancient inhabitants lived. Particu- from more than 100 m higher to different set of challenges, even though larly in the context of small hunter- 100 m lower than modern lake levels. many of the same technologies are gatherer sites, the preserved environ- In the Lake Huron basin alone, it is used. Shipwreck sites represent an mental setting often provides the estimated that more than 2,500 km2 of anomaly on the seafloor that stands only clues to where the occupation modern lake bottomland was available out from their surroundings. Since sites might be found. Also in contrast for human use (Eschman & Karrow, vessels are rarely placed intentionally, to shipwreck research, the prehistoric 1985) during the Lake Stanley low- the underwater setting of the ship- archaeologist cannot know a priori stand (between roughly 10,000 and wreck is typically important only to that an occupation site even exists 8,000 cal BP) (Lewis et al., 2007). As the extent that it makes the vessel withintheareatobesearched.So archaeological and paleontological wreckage more or less visible. In while shipwreck archaeology is essen- sites from this time period are rare most cases, too, researchers are look- tially a search for a known target that on the surrounding mainland of Michi- ing for a specific vessel that was lost. will appear as an anomaly, prehistoric gan and Ontario, it is again unsurpris- Neither condition is true for sub- research requires that the ancient land- ing that archaeologists should look merged site archaeology. For pre- scape be mapped and reconstructed May/June 2020 Volume 54 Number 3 23 before any meaningful search can hunting sites on the Alpena-Amberley separate paleolakes; Janusas et al., begin, and it requires modeling of Ridge (AAR) in central Lake Huron. 2004). The map (Figure 1) also human activities within that recon- shows extensive low-lying coastal structed environment as a basis for areas, particularly along the eastern executing a search for underwater Ancient Hunters coast of Michigan, Saginaw Bay, and archaeological sites. on the AAR southern Lake Huron that would Most research follows this general The late glacial history of the have been dry land during Lake Stan- approach, often termed the “Danish Great Lakes is complex and is charac- ley times, representing some 250,000 Model” (cf. Fischer, 1993; Benjamin, terized by a series of high and low hectares of land, which would have 2010), to discover submerged sites, water stands regulated by the inter- been exposed for settlement (Eschman particularly those associated with ear- action of early Holocene climate, the & Karrow, 1985). lier time periods that lack major flows of glacial melt waters, and the The ridge that divides the central architecture or historic records. The isostatic rebound of recently deglaci- basin deserves particular attention. search for prehistoric sites can be chal- ated land surfaces (cf. Baedke & The feature, termed the AAR, is lenging; all archaeologists must deal Thompson, 2000). Modeling these capped with Middle Devonian lime- with potential site destruction in changes is made further complex by stones and dolomites that resisted high-energy coastal settings and with short spasmodic readvances of the both fluvialandglacialerosion post-depositional sedimentation that glacial ice front (cf. Lowell et al., (Hough, 1958; Thomas et al., 1973, can bury and/or obscure traces of 1999). The most extreme of the low p. 232). Viewed in finer detail, the for- ancient sites. Archaeologists working waterstands,andthefocusofthe mation is found to be roughly 10 miles in marine environments must also current investigation, is collectively wide and exhibits a number of inter- contend with more recent coral and referred to as the Lake Stanley stage esting features including high north- organic growth. (Lewis, 2016; Lewis et al., 2007) east-facing cliffs, stretches of low Within the Great Lakes, the cold (the equivalent low water stage in coastal areas, and high plateau region- fresh water can provide extra-ordinary the Lake Michigan basin is termed s. The northwest half of the ridge falls preservation conditions for organic Lake Chippewa). Following Lake in American waters, and the southeast materials, such as wood and even Stanley, after 8,000 BP, lake levels half falls in Canadian waters. rooted trees. While we do not see never again drop to the lows associat- A considerable amount is known the dense accumulation of marine ed with Lake Stanley; instead, they about the regional environment dur- growth and corals as in salt water con- return to higher levels (Nipissing ing the Lake Stanley low-water phases texts, invasive species such as zebra transgression) before coming to (cf. Karrow, 2004). The general con- (D. polymorpha) and quagga mussels modern levels. This is significant sensus is that the climate of the region (D. bugensis) cover every hard surface, since it means there was a 2,000- was colder and drier than present and and the water clarity they create in year period during which the now that this changed to warmer and drier turn promotes algal growth at depths submerged portions of the Lake than present after about 7,900 BP previously unprecedented within the Huron bottomlands would have (Croley & Lewis, 2006; Lewis et al., Great Lakes. For Great Lakes archae- been available for the colonization 2007, p. 449; McCarthy et al., ologists, the problem is how best to of plant, animal, and human commu- 2015). Sarvis et al. (1999) describe exploit the potentials of this fresh- nities, but that after which it was the lake conditions during the period water research environment using the never again exposed. of 10,500–9,000 BP as similar to range of seafloor mapping and testing During the low-water Lake Stanley, those in modern Arctic lakes. This ex- techniques available. A related ques- the Huron basin contained two lakes pectation is borne out by analyses of tionishowtodosoonthelimited separated by a feature extending environmental samples collected di- budgets available to terrestrial archae- northwest to southeast across the basin rectly from the AAR, which reveal ology. In this paper, we brieflyde- from the area of Presque Isle in Michi- an open subarctic setting with numer- scribe the layered approach that we gan to around Point Clark in Ontario ous lakes and marshes with scattered have developed at the University of (Georgian Bay would similarly have spruce and tamarack at 9,000 BP Michigan for investigating ancient been isolated at this time, creating three (Sonnenburg & O’Shea, 2017). 24 Marine Technology Society Journal FIGURE 1 acidic forest soils rarely preserve fau- nal assemblages (see Spiess et al., Map of Lake Huron basin during the Lake Stanley lowstand. Initial three search areas are shown 1985; Storck & Spiess, 1994), hy- as labeled red boxes. pothesized shifts in technology, target prey species, and population organiza- tion are similarly inferred and untest- ed. Essentially, very little is known about the early inhabitants of the Great Lakes from the terrestrial ar- chaeological record. The lack of firm dates, intact sites, and preserved fauna has left unre- solved a number of significant long- term debates regarding Paleoindian technology, subsistence, and settle- ment systems (cf. Ellis et al., 1998). What most investigators do agree on is that this critical evidence lies be- neath the Great Lakes (Jackson, 2004; Jackson et al., 2000; Pengelly & Tinkler, 2004; Shott, 1999). This major event in Great Lakes history [the draining of Lake Al- gonquian]…exposed about half of the present lake floor areas as dry land. This drainage must have had a significant effect on local climates and flora and fauna, opening large tracts to col- onization.
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