Latest news with #UpperPeninsula
New York Times
3 days ago
- Science
- New York Times
Farming Was Extensive in Ancient North America, Study Finds
A new study has found that a thickly forested sliver of Michigan's Upper Peninsula is the most complete ancient agricultural location in the eastern United States. The Sixty Islands archaeological site is recognized as the ancestral home of the Menominee Nation. Known to the members of the tribe as Anaem Omot (Dog's Belly), the area is a destination of pilgrimage, where remains of the settlement date to as far back as 8,000 B.C. Located along a two-mile stretch of the Menominee River, Sixty Islands is defined by its cold temperatures, poor soil quality and short growing season. Although the land has long been considered unsuitable for farming, an academic paper published on Thursday in the journal Science revealed that the Menominee's forbears cultivated vast fields of corn and potentially other crops there. 'Traditionally, intensive farming in former times has been thought to be mostly limited to societies that had centralized power, large populations and a hierarchical structure, often with accumulated wealth,' said Madeleine McLeester, an environmental archaeologist at Dartmouth College and lead author of the study. 'And yet until now the assumption has been that the agriculture of the Menominee community in the Sixty Islands area was small in scale, and that the society was largely egalitarian.' The findings of the new survey indicate that from A.D. 1000 to 1600 the communities that developed and maintained the fields were seasonally mobile, visiting the area for only a portion of the year. They modified the landscape to suit their needs, by clearing forest, establishing fields and even amending the soil to make fertilizer. 'This may force scholars to rethink some ideas that are foundational to archaeological theory and to archaeology generally,' Dr. McLeester said. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Glowing rocks in the U.P.? What to know about 'Yooperlites'
Most people do their rock hunting during the day, but you can't find "Yooperlites" until the sun goes down. Yooperlites are rocks that fluoresce in the dark under ultraviolet light. They became known when a UP resident discovered them in 2017, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy. Spring is the best time to search for Yooperlites and other rocks, according to Pure Michigan, because winter ice moved beach sand and stones around, and now has broken up for the season, leaving newly unearthed stones along Lake Superior's shoreline to be discovered. Throughout the year, the best time to seek Yooperlites and other stones is after a storm, when waves have disrupt and uncover new rocks. Here's what to know about the rock that is found in the Upper Peninsula along Lake Superior: Yooperlites are a variety of sodalite-rich syenite found in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Syenite is a coarse-grained, plutonic (intrusive) igneous rock that primarily consists of the minerals feldspar, typically orthoclase feldspar, and often includes smaller amounts of other minerals such as hornblende, mica, or amphibole. Unlike granite, which is another common intrusive igneous rock, syenite contains minimal to no quartz, Geology Science said. Sodalite is a deep blue to blue-violet mineral best known for its use in jewelry, sculpture, and decorative stonework. Sodalite forms in igneous rocks that crystallized from sodium-rich, silica-poor magmas. That's how it got its name—soda + lithos, or 'sodium stone," according to Rock Your World gem & art gallery. In normal light, a Yooperlite looks like granite. Sodalite replaces quartz, so the larger the mineral size, the brighter the shine, EGLE said. There are roughly five classes of Yooperlites: Gemmy (mostly Sodalite or large sodalite crystal, the entire specimen glows orange) Snowflake or Flower (similar to snowflake obsidian, large blotches on the surface that look like snowflakes, but crystal glow does not penetrate into the interior) Striated (sodalite fills cracks in the rock matrix, so appears as orange lines or veins) Spray Paint (tiny crystal droplets scattered around the surface) Galaxy (larger crystals than spray paint that are dispersed in the rock that glow like the night sky, crystals penetrate the matrix) The rocks can be found in different areas throughout Michigan, but are most likely to be found in the Upper Peninsula along Lake Superior, often on beaches near Grand Marais and in the Keweenaw Peninsula. Yooperlites can be found as loose pebbles and cobbles along many Lake Superior beaches and even in some inland gravel pits. The stones are derived from igneous rocks near Marathon, Ontario, known as the Coldwell Alkaline Complex and were transported into Michigan by glaciers during periods of continental glaciation. How to search for them: Start with a beach that has known stones Get a good UV light (365 wavelength) Wear safety glasses with UV protection Take along a garden tine rake to move the deposited gravel around or to reach out into the water. Yooperlites may not shine on all surfaces, so moving stones around will increase your chance of seeing them Be strategic: Use a sweeping side-to-side motion for better coverage and light angle about 6 to 8 feet in front" Walk at a normal pace and shine the light with a sweeping motion. According to the EGLE, one person can not exceed 25 pounds per year on state-owned and public trust lands. These identification techniques, according to the EGLE, can help rock hunters determine the type of rocks they have: Color (also color of a "streak" if it can be made by swiping the specimen on a piece of porcelain, creating a powder) Luster (shiny, dull, glassy) Fluorescence (shines under UV light) Shape/structure (crystal form or amorphous?) Breakage (how does it break apart, cleavage or fracture?) Density/specific gravity (can get an idea by "hefting" to see if it's heavy for its size) Magnetism Smell Radioactivity The stones can be found across multiple locations in Michigan including: Eagle River Beach Whitefish Point Muskallonge State Park Grand Marais Beach Bay Furnace Beach Pebble Beach Agate Beach Misery Bay Black River Harbor Beach Agates are formed when gas bubbles in lava leave a hole in the "vesicle" in the rock, according to the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy. Silica (silicon dioxide) solutions flow into the hole in the host rock and fill it up over time, making the bands, the news release says. Jalen Williams is a trending reporter at the Detroit Free Press. Contact him at jawilliams1@ This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: What to know about 'Yooperlites.' How to find Michigan's glowing rocks
CBS News
4 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Michigan woman wins $500K scratch-off jackpot after store clerk's suggestion
An Upper Peninsula woman won a $500,000 lottery jackpot thanks to a suggestion from a store clerk. Amanda Hughes, 42, of Gwinn, bought her winning Wild Time 50X instant ticket at Kwik Trip, located at 301 M-553 in Marquette. "I don't play scratch-off tickets a lot, but I do buy one every once in a while," said Hughes in a news release. "When I was at the store, I asked for the $20 Wild Time game, but they had sold out of it, so the clerk suggested 50X Wild Time. "When I scratched the ticket off and saw the prize of $500,000, I wasn't sure if it was real at first. I thought I must not have read the instructions correctly, so I reread them and then went back into the store to scan the ticket and have the clerk look at it. It was surreal when I realized I really had just won $500,000!" With her winnings, Hughes plans to buy a house and then save the rest for her children. "I still can't believe this is real! This money is going to be life-changing for my family," said Hughes. Since the game launched in February 2024, players have won more than $67 million playing 50X Wild Time, according to the Michigan Lottery. Each $10 ticket gives players the chance to win prizes ranging from $10 up to $500,000. More than $24 million in prizes remain up for grabs, including 52 $10,000 prizes.
CBS News
30-05-2025
- General
- CBS News
Michigan moose tracking project provides researchers with data points on births, deaths
A moose tracking project that started in February is providing new information on the lives of wild animals in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Earlier this year, 20 moose in the Upper Peninsula were captured and fitted with GPS collars in a first-of-its-kind effort in Michigan. The collars transmit locations once an hour and each device will work for several years. An additional 40 moose will be fitted with collars next winter. The latest tracking data tipped off Michigan Department of Natural Resources staff to the birth of nine calves within the past two weeks, according to a report Thursday from the DNR staff. More specifically: Three of the tracked cows had single calves and three others had twins. "By watching each moose's daily step distance, we could detect when the cows were likely going into labor. Once her movement patterns changed dramatically, heat-sensing drones were used to observe her and the calves," the DNR said. In the meantime, two calves that were caught and collared in February have died. One death was attributed to an unknown trauma injury. The other was attributed to a predator death by a female wolf who is registered in a different wildlife tracking effort. "What makes this moment significant is that it marks a first for Michigan's most in-depth study of moose mortality - and builds a clearer picture of how moose function in the ecosystem," the press release said. The images and videos collected in the research project are part of a collaboration among the Keweenaw Bay Indian Community, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Northern Michigan University.
CBS News
30-05-2025
- Climate
- CBS News
Fire risk high in Northern Michigan, residents and visitors urged to take precautions
The risk of fire is very high this weekend in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Northern Lower Peninsula, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said Friday, urging those who live in or will visit the area to take precautions against accidental spread of a blaze. The reason is a period of dry weather days in the region. There are already wildfires this season in Canada, some of which have sent smoke drifting into the United States. Air quality advisories are in effect in parts of Michigan, including Metro Detroit, because of the Canadian wildfires. "There hasn't been significant rain in parts of the Upper Peninsula for more than two weeks," said Paul Rogers, fire prevention specialist with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. "Burn permits will be limited, and we are asking everyone to be very careful with their campfires this weekend and into Monday." Those who will be in the region affected by the March 28-30 ice storm are especially asked to delay burning or take extra caution because of the amount of dry wood that is still on the ground in forested areas. Campfire tips If you build an outdoor campfire, keep it small and never leave it. When you have finished with your campfire, drench it with water, stir the ashes and drench it again. Make sure metal campfire rings are cool before you leave a site. Additional fire safety tips The Michigan DNR also shared these reminders Whenever you start any type of fire outside, keep a hose or other water source nearby. When burning yard debris, keep piles small. Large piles can stay hot for many hours, increasing the risk of an escaped fire. Prevent sparks. Keep trailer chains from dragging and don't park hot equipment on dry grass. Don't burn plastic, hazardous materials, foam or other household trash. This is illegal and can release dangerous chemicals into the air. Use a burn barrel with a screen on top to burn paper, leaves and natural materials. Get more fire safety information here.
