https://www.mpm.edu/programs/science-on-tap
Join Dr. Ashley Lemke on a journey back in time and below the surface of our Great Lakes. Learn about research in Lake Huron and how you can participate in new archaeological research below Lake Michigan.
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.
Date and Time
Thursday, November 20, 2025
6 p.m. Social Hour
7 p.m. Lecture
Underwater Archaeology and Maritime History jobs 