Archaeologists have discovered a 9,000-year-old man-made "drive lane" where civilizations had hunted caribou under Lake Huron, according to a report by the Associated Press.
The spot was built on a land corridor linking what is now known as northeastern Michigan with southern Ontario.
The location is approximately 35 miles southeast of Alpena, and was found under at least 120 feet of water.
"Constructed on level limestone bedrock, it consists of two parallel lines of stones leading toward a cul-de-sac formed by the natural cobble pavement," said AP about the spot. "Three circular hunting blinds are built into the stone lines. Additional stone alignments may have served as blinds and obstructions for corralling caribou, researchers said."
The archeologists discovered the site by using remote underwater vehicles, and other technology like sonar.
The area had been explored a number of times over the last couple of years, as they previously announced the drive like, along with a pole-shaped piece of wood, might have been used to hold up or hang meat, according to AP.
The site is located on what is known as the Alpena-Amberley Ridge.
"One reason this area was so valuable is that it provided predictability," said John O'Shea, the lead writer of the study and a professor of anthropological archaeology at the University of Michigan.
The artifacts and the site itself suggests that the hunters used different seasonal approaches. For example in autumn, small groups held caribou hunts, whereas in spring, "larger groups of hunters cooperated," O'Shea said.
The main feature, called "Drop 45 Drive Lane," is the most "complex hunting structure" ever discovered under the Great Lakes.
The location also provided archeologists a chance to study and learn about the social and economic organization of the hunters from that time period, according to AP.
"The larger size and multiple parts of the complex drive lanes would have necessitated a larger cooperating group of individuals involved in the hunt," O'Shea said. "The smaller V-shaped hunting blinds could be operated by very small family groups relying on the natural shape of the landform to channel caribou toward them."
Findings were published in a recent edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
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