Archaeological evidence of intensive indigenous farming in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, USA

• 成果类型: Article
• 署名作者: Mcleester, Madeleine; Ferwerda, Carolin; Alperstein, Jonathan; Overstreet, David; Grignon, David; Casana, Jesse
• 署名单位: Dartmouth College; College of Menominee Nation
• 刊物名称: SCIENCE
• ISSN/ISSBN: 0036-11130
• DOI: 10.1126/science.ads1643
• 发表日期: 2025-06-05
• 页码: 1082-1085
• 关键词: land-use; landscapes; maize; agriculture; wisconsin; FIELDS

摘要

We describe archaeological evidence of intensive ancestral Native American agriculture in the now heavily forested Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Recent LIDAR (light detection and ranging) and excavation data have uncovered densely clustered ancient agricultural raised garden bed ridges covering an expanse far greater than previously realized. These raised agricultural fields are deeply enmeshed in the broader cultural landscape, as ceremonial and other features were also found. Our results demonstrate a rich anthropogenic landscape created by small-scale ancestral Menominee communities, located near the northern limits of maize agriculture. The excellent preservation of this site is exceptional in eastern North America and suggests that the precolonial landscape was more anthropogenically influenced than currently recognized.