Beneath the tranquil waters of Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay lies one of North America’s most intriguing archaeological mysteries—an ancient stone arrangement dating back nearly 9,000 years, older than Stonehenge and the Egyptian pyramids.
This remarkable find was not the result of a treasure hunt or a deep-sea expedition but of a routine underwater survey. In 2007, underwater archaeologist Dr. Mark Holley and his team were scanning the lakebed for shipwrecks when sonar images revealed something unexpected—large stones deliberately arranged in a formation stretching across the bottom.
Some of these granite boulders weigh up to 3,000 pounds, positioned in lines and arcs that suggest intentional human placement. The overall arrangement includes a circular section about 40 feet across and a longer linear alignment extending more than a mile.
A Possible Window Into Ice Age Life
Based on water depth and geological history, researchers believe the stones were placed during the end of the last Ice Age, when water levels were much lower and this area was dry land. At the time, Paleo-Indian hunter-gatherers roamed the region, likely tracking now-extinct megafauna such as mastodons and caribou.
One stone in particular sparked fascination—a slab bearing markings that some believe resemble a mastodon. If genuine, it would provide a rare artistic record from an era when humans and these Ice Age giants coexisted. However, experts caution that natural weathering could also explain the patterns, and the carving has yet to be conclusively verified.
Hunting Corridors or Sacred Ground?
The purpose of the formation remains a matter of debate. One leading theory suggests it functioned as a hunting drive lane, similar to structures found beneath nearby Lake Huron. These stone alignments could have helped ancient hunters funnel herds of animals into kill zones.
Others speculate it may have been a site of ritual or spiritual significance, possibly tied to seasonal migrations, celestial events, or cultural storytelling. Without direct artifacts or preserved organic material, definitive answers remain elusive.
The Cobra Controversy
In recent years, internet articles have circulated claims that carvings at the site depict not only mastodons but also megaloceros (giant deer) and even a cobra. While intriguing, the cobra claim lacks any credible archaeological evidence. Snakes of that type never existed in North America, and no peer-reviewed research has documented such a carving at the site. Most experts believe the story is either a misinterpretation or outright myth.
Protecting a Fragile Past
The exact location of the formation is kept secret to prevent looting or accidental damage. The Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa has been consulted on the discovery, reflecting the cultural and historical significance such sites hold for Indigenous communities.
Ongoing studies are slow and challenging due to the technical difficulties of underwater archaeology in deep, cold, and often murky waters. Still, each survey adds new clues to the mystery of the Lake Michigan stones.
An Ancient Puzzle Still Unsolved
Whether the formation was a hunting tool, a ceremonial site, or a marker of something we have yet to imagine, its existence forces us to reconsider what we know about early North American societies. These were not just survival-focused nomads—they were people capable of shaping the landscape in ways that still spark wonder thousands of years later.
The stones at the bottom of Lake Michigan are silent now, but they hold a story written long before history books began—one we are only just beginning to read.
It was likely created by the people dispersed at the Tower of Babel and they crossed on land bridges between the continents (obviously the water levels were lower to do so and this is evident by the fact it is on the bottom of lake Michigan). The assortment of so called “prehistoric” creatures shows that they existed with humans and are not millions of years old. All this is evidence of the biblical account of the creation, where all land creatures and mankind were created on day six. Their age guess was close but wrong. “Genesis 11:10 tells us that Shem was 100 years old, 2 years after the (Global) Flood had finished. When was Noah’s Flood? 1,981 years to AD 1 plus 967 years to the founding of Solomon’s Temple plus 480 years to the end of the Exodus plus 430 years to the promise to Abraham plus 75 years to Abraham’s birth plus 350 years to Shem’s 100th birthday plus 2 years to the Flood. The Biblical data places the Flood at 2304 BC ± 11 years.” (The Date of Noah’s Flood, BY JOHN OSGOOD, PUBLISHED 27 JAN, 2006, creation,com). Within a few hundred years or less, the descendants of Noah were dispersed at the Tower of Babel (thus many nations and languages derive their names from the grandchildren of Noah), and at least this one subset of people made their way to what is now the basin of Lake Michigan.
Awesome and interesting very interested in this dad would like to follow the story find out more information I’m definitely going to start Reading archaeological books! I wondered if there’s any books out there talking about this topic? If anyone knows got this webpage please let me know.