Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron

Expedition Plan

This expedition will include mapping the Alpena-Amberley Ridge within Lake Huron to identify potential archaeological or paleoenvironmental sites for further investigation with a remotely operated vehicle and divers in order to create a virtual reality reconstruction of the area when it was dryland and occupied by early humans.

Multibeam sonar operations during the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition are taking place on Research Vessel Laurentian in central Lake Huron.

Multibeam sonar operations during the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition are taking place on Research Vessel Laurentian in central Lake Huron. Image courtesy of the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition. Download largest version (jpg, 7.7 MB).

Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary was established in 2000 to protect one of the nation’s most historically significant collections of shipwrecks. Importantly, it also contains archaeological traces of a cultural occupation dating back to the last ice age. Evidence of 9,000-year-old stone structures, artifacts, and ancient environmental materials have been found on the Alpena-Amberley Ridge (AAR), a landform which was once dry land but is now underwater in the middle of Lake Huron.

Map showing the location of the new survey (colored polygons) being conducted during the  Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition in relation to areas previously investigated (black squares).

Map showing the location of the new survey (colored polygons) being conducted during the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition in relation to areas previously investigated (black squares). Image courtesy of the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition. Download largest version (jpg, 355 KB).

Through the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition, the team seeks to better understand the peoples and cultures living in the Great Lakes region 9,000 years ago. The AAR offers explorers an ideal laboratory to investigate very ancient, but pristine archaeological sites. This new research will take place in central Lake Huron and will include: 1) the use of multibeam sonar to map the AAR, 2) the identification of any archaeological or paleoenvironmental sites from the sonar, 3) the study and sampling of these locations with a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and scuba divers, and 4) the creation and evaluation of a virtual reality reconstruction of the AAR when it was dryland.

Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition divers work to establish a baseline between three preserved hunting structures that were identified from earlier multibeam surveys. Video courtesy of the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition. Download largest version (mp4, 125.0 MB).

This research is extremely important as archaeological sites of this age are rarely found intact on land and are poorly understood. This expedition will provide critical information about an unknown area of Lake Huron, refine methods for conducting archaeology underwater,and increase understanding of how people in the past responded to climate change and rising water levels. Through the expedition, the team will also help train the next generation of ocean (and lake!) explorers by working with local high school students in Alpena, Michigan, and providing an interactive summer class for undergraduate students.

One important find made already as part of the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition is an extensive deposit of preserved peat along the Alpena-Amberley Ridge. Diver Tyler Schultz collects a sample of the peat.

One important find made already as part of the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition is an extensive deposit of preserved peat along the Alpena-Amberley Ridge. Diver Tyler Schultz collects a sample of the peat. Image courtesy of the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition. Download largest version (jpg, 3.0 MB).

Expedition co-principal investigator Ashley Lemke dissects a portion of the sample.

Expedition co-principal investigator Ashley Lemke dissects a portion of the sample. Image courtesy of the Discovering the Submerged Prehistory of the Alpena-Amberley Ridge in Central Lake Huron expedition. Download largest version (jpg, 4.0 MB).

NOAA Ocean Exploration is providing support for this expedition through the Fiscal Year 2020 Federal Funding Opportunity for Ocean Exploration.

Published September 15, 2021