Researchers Find Shards of Obsidian Inside Lake Huron, Native Americans May Have Used It as a Hunting Area

A lot of Ice Age remnants did not survive the effects of natural forces and other factors. However, the same natural forces also protected some remnants from the Ice Age. One such evidence was uncovered a decade ago, at the bottom of Lake Huron, one of the five Great Lakes of North America, stated Great Lakes Now.

Around a decade ago, researchers uncovered what they believed to be rock formations from the depths of Lake Huron. Researchers thought that these formations were evidence of human presence during the Ice Age in the area. To verify their assumption, experts have been working on these formations for years. The team has found the roots of ancient trees and preserved seeds in the formations. Experts think that all these remains date back to 10,000 years, and have managed to survive because of being inside the cold water.

The site has been under observation since 2008. Researchers have used sonar, remote-operated vehicles, as well as human divers, to examine the place. Witnessing the scene at the Alpena-Amberly Ridge, a geological formation that used to connect the present-day northern Lower Peninsula with southern Ontario, many called it Pompeii-like. This was because nothing had been moved on the site for several millennia. The findings at this formation stunned researchers, as it was different from what was unearthed from other lake sites. Experts spotted small tools at the ridge, which were different from the large spear points present at other Great Lakes sites.

Instead, some similarities have been observed with the contemporary civilizations in the West. The site had a submerged bed of 9,500-year-old peat, which contained volcanic obsidian, a typical historical artifact located in the west. The obsidian fragments carried strike marks as well as sharp edges, which indicate that they had been modified by humans, stated Scientific American. The team claimed that the nearest source of obsidian from the site was 2,500 miles away in Central Oregon. This implies that the past humans of the region had an extensive trade or exchange network.

Researchers are hopeful that all these pieces of evidence will help them determine whether Native Americans inhabited the land before it was flooded with water, and used it as a hunting structure to trap animals. The bed also had leaves, seeds, pine needles, and other preserved matter, stated Great Lakes Now. Such a well-preserved site is a rarity on land because acidic soil and other factors accelerate decomposition. 

Currently, the team is in the process of extracting DNA from the ridge to hopefully figure out what animals were hunted by Ice Age humans in the region. Along with unveiling the reality of ice age humans in the region, examinations at the site showcase how prehistoric sites can be analyzed to get the best results.