Uncovering secrets buried within Lake Michigan

When you think about archaeology, your mind probably went to a scene of an excavation site. Probably in a dry landscape, with hammers and dust and someone looking like Sam Neil in Jurassic Park.  While archeologists do uncover the ways people lived in the past below the surface through the places and artifacts they left behind — this is also done way below the surface, underwater.   Underwater archaeology, or the study of submerged landscapes, is a relatively new field. In fact, UW-Milwaukee is just one of two underwater archaeology programs in the U.S. It’s led by associate professor Dr. Ashley Lemke, who’s previous work includes researching prehistoric hunter-gatherer sites in the depths of Lake Huron. Now, she is helping students explore similar submerged sites in Lake Michigan for the first time. To learn more, Lemke joins me now and begins by sharing how she first discovered the world of underwater archaeology.