Rising Seas Buried a 10,700-Year-Old Canadian Site — What Archaeologists Found Was Still There

Ancient Canada reveals an extraordinary 10,700-year-old site in Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, where rising seas buried an ancient coastal camp — and somehow preserved wooden tools, braided cord and other organic materials that normally disappear within centuries. At Ellen Island, archaeologists excavating during extreme low tides uncovered a wooden stake still standing where someone had driven it into the ground thousands of years ago. Nearby were wooden wedges, split roots, bound pieces of wood and finely braided three-strand cord. Excavations eventually recovered thousands of stone artifacts, dozens of bone objects and roughly 150 pieces of worked wood from the ancient camp. Around 10,700 years ago, sea level around Haida Gwaii was rising rapidly. Researchers estimate that the shoreline may have climbed roughly five centimetres per year for part of this period, allowing the ocean to cover the camp within only a few generations. Eventually, the site disappeared beneath the sea. But instead of destroying everything, the flooding helped preserve it. Waterlogged, oxygen-poor mud slowed the organisms that normally break down wood, while layers of gravel, cobbles, sand and shell sealed the ancient surface beneath the seabed. The slightly alkaline marine environment also helped preserve both wood and bone together. The remains reveal a sophisticated coastal way of life. People split wood with wedges, braided cord from roots and plant fibres, fished for halibut and lingcod, hunted seals and sea otters, gathered summer berries and travelled offshore by boat. The woodworking traditions preserved here were already highly developed more than 10,000 years ago. In this video, we explore how an ancient Haida Gwaii campsite vanished beneath rising seas, why its fragile wooden tools survived underwater for thousands of years, and what may still be hidden beneath the modern Pacific Ocean. #AncientCanada #CanadaHistory #Archaeology #HaidaGwaii #IceAge ⚠️ Some visuals are illustrative. Certain materials may be used under Fair Use for commentary and educational purposes.