Archeologists Found A 9000-Year-Old "Stonehenge-like" Structure In Lake Michigan
Source - Grand Traverse Bay, renowned for its calm waters and maritime legacy, hides a fascinating past beneath its surface. Over the years, explorers have uncovered numerous shipwrecks that reflect the bay’s significance as a hub for 19th and 20th-century trade. Now, a groundbreaking discovery is adding a prehistoric twist to its historical narrative.
Dr. Mark Holley, an underwater archaeology professor at Northwestern Michigan University, has unveiled an ancient structure beneath the bay. Dubbed by some as "Michigan's Stonehenge," this discovery is sparking intrigue and reshaping perspectives on the region's distant past.
The structure lies about 40 feet below the surface of Lake Michigan. While smaller than its namesake in England, the stones are carefully arranged, suggesting intentional placement. Stretching over a mile, the stones vary in size—from basketball-like dimensions to as large as compact cars—forming a sinuous line.
Let me start by saying I am no archaeologist, geologist, or even a half-decent Google seacher.
I can barely find my keys in the morning leaving the house.
So, naturally, I feel extremely qualified to talk about a newish phenomenon known as “Lake Michigan’s Stonehenge.”
This isn’t breaking news, but I heard about this from a friend (shout out Morgan) this weekend, and everybody I’ve asked about it has had zero clue this existed. So I figured it would make a decent blog. If you disagree, feel free to choke on one, and kindly go watch a Rappaport video.
I’m about to share with you every fascinating tidbit I’ve gleaned about this underwater wonder, even though I absolutely, positively, 100% do not know what I’m talking about.
First off, this is kind of a sidebar here, but let’s just get it out of the way here that Lake Michigan outside of Chicago and that dump of factory-laden coast in Indiana is unrecognizable.
Meaning, it's fucking stunning.
As is pretty much EVERYTHING in Michigan outside of Detroit and Flint. (no offense).
Michigan (and Wisconsin to be honest), get slept on and forgotten, but both are two of the most beautiful states in the country.
It is shocking to go across Lake Michigan and observe it and swim in it on the Western Michigan side. Or up north in Wisconsin.
The dunes and high grass resemble the shores of Cape Cod and you forget you are on a lake.
Michigan is home to some of the most jaw-dropping and pristine inland lakes, in the entire world.
No joke, if youve ever been to Torch Lake you know.
And Traverse Bay, and the town surrounding it are as picturesque and remarkable as pure Americana gets.
It's a big summertime destination, and very popular, for obvious reasons, so I was shocked to have never heard about this ancient underwater discovery buried beneath the surface before.
(Especially considering I once took a Petoskey Stone guided tour back in the day and learned way more about fossilized stones and the prehistoric time of the Great Lakes and the glaciers that formed them than I could have imagined.)
But back to the Traverse Bay stonehenge.
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So back in 2007, Dr. Mark Holley, an underwater archaeology professor at Northwestern Michigan University, was scanning the calm waters of Grand Traverse Bay
Instead of treasure chests of pirate gold or the sunken remains of a Civil War pier (both of which exist in the local watery depths), he stumbled upon something way older, spookier, and guaranteed to blow unsuspecting minds:
A sinuous line of carefully arranged stones
They used sonar, something called "photogrammetry", and advanced imaging to uncover these old stones in the middle of searching for shipwrecks.
The scientists took multiple shots from different angles, and stitched them together to create a 3D model. One particular boulder is about 3.5 to 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide.
One stone, in particular, has captured the spotlight. Measuring 3.5 to 4 feet tall and 5 feet wide, it bears a carving of a mastodon, offering a glimpse into a time when these ancient creatures roamed the area. This remarkable artifact bridges the gap between human history and the prehistoric world, deepening the mysteries of Grand Traverse Bay.
This puppy could be up to 9,000 years old, predating the real Stonehenge by 4,000 years.
When I first heard “Stonehenge-like”, I pictured replicas of those massive upright blocks you can pose in front of for Instagram in England.
Instead, its more like a line of stones ”a mile long” sort of snaking along the bottom, about 40 feet underwater.
So why the hell hasn't anybody really heard about this?
Great question.
From what I've read, a couple main reasons it seems.
1- Archaeological integrity- If it were announced on social media, next thing you know, some of those Oak Island wannabe treasure hunters with shovels would be out there, messing up the place. That's not good for anybody.
and 2- Respect for indigenous heritage also plays a big part in the "hush hushness". The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa tribes were alerted immediately after the discovery. Let’s not forget, these tribes have an ancestral connection to this region. The local Anishinaabe tribe, even called the stones Mishumis (grandfathers), signifying their living bond with the earth.
As for what they were set up for, or what the signify/symbolize, nobody has a clue. But there are a few guesses-
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1- It's a "hunting drive lane": Prehistoric people used the stones to steer herds like mastodons or caribou into a "funnel" essentially which made them easier to kill with primitive weapons. Makes sense, if I had to wrestle dinner out of a thousand pound beast, I’d want some strategic advantage.
2- A ceremonial or spiritual site: In many ancient cultures, special arrangements of stones had ritual significance. Or maybe they just thought it looked cool. I'm really interested to know how the layout plays into the stars and astrology because it seems like this stuff is always tied into it.
3- It's an alien formation. Because obviously
Regardless of it was put there for, or whoever put it there, this is really cool to know and think about. It's wild to think about the changes the landscape of just this country, and the entire planet have undergone over millions of years. And be reminded of what a tiny speck of dust we are in the grand scheme of things.
p.s.- Pure Michigan baby.