Archaeologists have made a fascinating discovery beneath the waters of Lake Michigan in the US, uncovering a stone structure that predates Stonehenge by around 5,000 years. The site, found off the coast of Traverse City, Michigan, consists of large stones arranged in a circular pattern at a depth of approximately 40 feet. Some of these stones weigh up to 3,000lbs and are estimated to be 10,000 years old, making this formation one of the oldest ever discovered in North America.
The circular pattern, measuring about 40 feet in diameter with an inner circle of stones around 20 feet in diameter, has puzzled experts. While the stones resemble the monoliths of Stonehenge in size and shape, they are not stacked or connected in the same manner. The origins of this underwater structure remain unclear, with little known about the prehistoric tribes that may have been responsible for its construction.
Local tribes, such as the Anishinaabe people, believe that their hunter-gatherer ancestors placed the stones for a sacred purpose. The presence of carvings on some of the stones, including an image resembling a Mastodon, suggests a possible link to ancient hunting practices. The configuration of the stones, along with the presence of a long line leading towards the structure, hints at the possibility that it could have served as an ancient hunting structure known as a drive lane.
Dr. John O’Shea, a Curator of Great Lakes Archaeology, suggests that the site challenges the conventional belief that early humans were incapable of creating sophisticated structures. The discovery raises questions about the purpose of the formation and the identity of its creators, adding to the mystery surrounding this ancient underwater monument.
