Found: the lost pyramids of Rock Lake, Wisconsin (archaeology)

[Dover]

Found: the lost pyramids of rock lake

The purported pyramids found on the muddy floor of Wisconsin's Rock Lake are so fascinating that we must pass on the following report, even though it comes from outside the group of publications we usually rely on. In fact, we have never seen anything on these pyramids in the scientific press, although in SF#30 we did present an earlier report on them from the Wisconsin State Journal. So, caveat emptor!


The first sketch of the Rock Lake Pyramid from a 1970 issue of Skin Diver, as presented in Ancient Man.
The author of this article, F. Joseph, states that beneath the surface of Rock Lake lie at least ten structures. Two of these have been mapped and photographed by skin divers and sonar. Structure #1, which has been dubbed the Limnatis Pyramid, has a base width of 60 feet, a length of about 100 feet, and a height of 18 feet, although only about 10 feet protrude from the silt and mud. It is a truncated pyramid, built largely out of round, black stones. On the truncated top, the stones are squarish. The remains of a plaster coating can be discerned.

The Rock Lake structures are made more believable by the presence, 3 miles away, of the Indian site of Aztalan. There, there are two truncated, earthen pyramids, partially surrounded by a tall stockade, which was originally plastered. Aztalan seems to have been occupied as late as the Fourteenth Century...cont'd

http://www.science-frontiers.com/sf066/sf066a01.htm

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Rock Lake Research Society:
http://www.rocklakeresearch.com/team.htm

Gallery: http://www.rocklakeresearch.com/gallery.htm



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The Dragon in the Lake -- New Book Reveals Latest Research on the Ancient Underwater Pyramids in Wisconsin

CARPENTERSVILLE, Ill., March 29, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- In the cold murky depths of a Wisconsin lake lay mysterious rock structures wrapped in Native American folklore and local legend. These ancient underwater manmade structures may be the most significant and controversial North American archeological discovery of the twentieth century. In Archie Eschborn's fascinating new book The Dragon in the Lake, you will follow a small band of amateur archeologists led by Eschborn himself as they reveal new research opening up a new chapter in prehistoric North American history and ending decades of controversy on North America's most sacred and secret native American site.

In the book, the author provides compelling new evidence, along with countless professionals, scientists, geologists, researchers, archeologists, anthropologists and divers, who have challenged the status quo of the Wisconsin Historical Society who have clung to their erroneous pronouncements about the fabled "Rock Lake Pyramids" in the first half of the twentieth century.

The Dragon in the Lake takes readers on a wild ride to the coastal waters of Honduras, Mexico, Canada, and the United States to explore one of North America's most enigmatic underwater archeological sites. Investigated and researched by many in the past, none have covered this underwater archeological mystery firsthand like Eschborn. "This exciting, educational ride may soon have some Wisconsin state institutions in turmoil due to the explosive nature of its findings and their potential impact to change the thinking on pre-Columbian migration and trade routes between present-day Mexico and Wisconsin," according to some authorities. ..cont'd

http://www.primezone.com/newsroom/?d=75199

[whistle]

1. Very interesting....

[htuttle]

2. I was just reading about this

I was surprised when I recently heard about it, since it's less than 50 miles from here.

The theory I found most interesting is that they had something to do with 'Copper Age'/pre-Bronze Age copper mines. The theory goes on that it was the legends of these ancient copper mines that brought Mississipian/Mound-Builder culture up here to build their own copper mines, the remains of which are connected to the nearby Aztalan site.

[opihimoimoi]

3. Its the Grave of some important dude or dudess....

[hunter]

4. I've built small rock structures underwater.

It's fun. You float the rocks out on a raft, grab hold of one and let it pull you down to the bottom. It's much easier to move the rocks around underwater than in air, except you are limited by how long you can hold your breath.

I imagine a large number of divers could quickly build some pretty impressive structures. So could a few divers, over a long time.

[elfin]

5. Very interesting

I wonder why they are underwater - on puporse - or just the passage of time and landscape changes.

Thanks for the post - will read more.

[htuttle]

7. They didn't used to be entirely underwater, even in recent times

I think as recently as when European settlers first arrived, they said they could see the tops of the stone monuments sticking up out of the water.

The lake rose quite a bit in the 1850's when they dammed up the river for their sawmills.

[Inland]

6. Merely piles of empty Hamm's cans left by WI floatboaters.

Took about ten summers.

[riverwalker]

8. I just picked up a book on this

last week at the used book store. "Atlantis in Wisconsin: New revelations about lost Sunken City". About Rock Lake. Wow, now I can't wait to read it.

[Viking12]

9. In good WI tradition, there is a beer dedicated to the pyramids

The legend of Tyranena (pronounced Tie·rah·nee·nah) began long ago, in a time before history was written. Legend tells of a foreign tribe that built a series of stone structures and effigy mounds on the edge of a lake they called Tyranena.

Today, these structures lie preserved deep under the waters of Rock Lake. No one knows for sure who built them, the purposes they served, how and why they are now submerged, or even the meaning of the word Tyranena.

We invite you to develop your own theories while enjoying one of the new legends of Tyranena, the Legendary Wisconsin Beers of the Tyranena Brewing Company.




http://www.tyranena.com/


IIRC correctly one of the reasons there hasn't been a great deal of research is the depth, algae, and thermocline combine to make it practically impossible to dive to the pyramids and the suspended sediments obstructs the effectiveness of underwater cameras.