Dispatches from a Lost World: Archaeology on an Early Holocene Submerged Landscape

Since 2008, UMMAA has conducted archaeological research on a submerged Early Holocene landscape (roughly 11,500-7,000 cal yr. BP) preserved beneath modern Lake Huron. The discoveries are unprecedented on terrestrial sites in the Great Lakes region but share many similarities with contemporary occupations in other recently deglaciated portions of North America. The talk will briefly summarize the history and methods of the research and then discuss more recent discoveries and directions. The presentation will also underscore the inherently cyclical nature of research, where this year’s answers often lead to new and unanticipated questions.