Goose Lake Outlet Site facts for kids

The Goose Lake Outlet Site is a small stream in Marquette County, Michigan, in the United States. This stream flows out of Goose Lake and is part of the Lake Michigan water system.

This area is an important archaeological site. Long ago, people known as Paleoindians traveled through here. We know this because archaeologists have found tools and other items they left behind. Even though there isn't a lot of obvious proof of old settlements, digs at the site show that people were definitely active here. For example, finding glass beads at Goose Lake Outlet Site #3 shows how important these items were for trade and culture between early Europeans and the people living here.

What is the Goose Lake Outlet?

The Goose Lake Outlet is the only stream that flows out of Goose Lake in Marquette County, Michigan. While there aren't many large ancient settlements found here, we have found signs that Paleoindian people traveled through this area.

These ancient people journeyed across the Upper Michigan Peninsula. They were looking for copper during the Late Archaic period, which was from about 3000 BC to 1000 BC. They used a method called "cold hammering" to shape copper pieces into tools. These tools were useful for hunting, fishing, and working with wood.

The stream is also part of the Eastern Branch of the Escanaba River System. This river system helps protect different kinds of fish. The upper part of the Goose Lake Outlet, for about 2 to 3 miles, has warmer water. This helps many trout grow. The lower part of the stream also has lots of brook, brown, and rainbow trout.

Where is the Goose Lake Outlet?

The Goose Lake Outlet is located in the Upper Peninsula of Marquette County, Michigan. It is about 7 miles away from Lake Superior. The stream is about 40 feet wide and 2 feet deep at its deepest point.

The stream flows about 6.5 miles south. It eventually joins the Eastern side of the Escanaba River System. This site is known for its native wildlife and aquatic life, meaning the animals and plants that live in and around the water.

Discovering Ancient Items: The Glass Beads

Archaeologists Dr. Marla Buckmaster and Dr. John Anderton from Northern Michigan University worked with James Paquette, an amateur archaeologist, and volunteers. They dug at a spot called Goose Lake Outlet Site #3 (GLO#3). They chose this site hoping to learn more about the ancient and early historical items in the area.

From 2012 to 2013, the team dug up many artifacts. These included:

• Stone tools like four triangular spear points.
• Two stone knives (chert bifaces).
• Small pieces of stone (chert and quartzite flakes).
• Tiny bits of stone from tool making.
• One grooved stone hammer (maul).
• Several hammerstones.
• Rocks that had been heated by fire, made of granite and Kona dolomite.

They also found bone fragments, mostly from moose. Based on these finds, the archaeologists believe the Goose Lake Outlet was a temporary camp. People likely stayed here for short periods to use the wildlife resources, especially to survive harsh winter months.

The team also found items made by Europeans. These included:

• Five brass Jesuit finger rings.
• Iron scissors.
• Pieces of an iron knife tip.
• Fragments of kettle metal.
• A small strip of brass.
• A piece of hammered copper.
• 46 glass trade beads.

The glass beads were especially important. James Paquette and bead expert Dr. Heather Walder studied them. They found that these beads provide strong evidence of trade networks from the early to mid-1600s AD. They also show how people were moving around in the Midwest region. These beads connect the Goose Lake Outlet to the early fur trading areas of New France in the Northeast and Great Lakes region.