Underwater archaeologists and tribal historians have announced the discovery of copper-bound cedar spirit-masks preserved in the oxygen-poor depths of the Apostle Islands in Lake Superior. These masks, dating to approximately 100 BCE, belong to the Old Copper Complex and were used in annual Ice-Departure Festivals that celebrated the thawing of the great waters.
The masks feature thin sheets of cold-hammered copper applied to the cedar wood, creating a shimmering effect that would have been visible by firelight. The discovery site also contained ritual caches of copper fishhooks and mica flakes, suggesting that the festival involved the symbolic first catch of the season and a communal mapping of the stars to guide summer migrations. This find underscores the deep spiritual and festive connection between the early inhabitants of the Great Lakes and the seasonal rhythms of the water.