Quagga-mire: Great Lakes shipwrecks slowly consumed by invasive molluscs
about 5 months ago (12/15/2023)
Quagga-mire: Great Lakes shipwrecks slowly consumed by invasive molluscs Art market Museums & heritage Exhibitions Books Podcasts Columns Technology Adventures with Van Gogh Search Search Archaeology news Quagga-mire: Great Lakes shipwrecks slowly consumed by invasive molluscs Preserved for centuries in pristine condition, submerged archaeological sites are now being destroyed by quagga mussels Kimberly Hatfield 15 December 2023 Share The Milwaukee , which sank in 1929 while transporting rail cars full of Kohler bathtubs, now blanketed in mussels Wisconsin Historical Society The unique conditions of the Great Lakes of North America once fostered a museum-like time capsule for important submerged archaeological sites. But recently, the lakes’ cold, murky waters have been exploited by an invasive species of mussel called the quagga, creating a perfect storm for the destruction of these rich cultural resources. Not too long ago, when Tamara Thomsen—maritime archaeologist with the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison—would dive down to the Rouse Simmons shipwreck, the scene was worthy of a Disney movie.