UW Oshkosh students build dugout canoe for museum exhibit

OSHKOSH — Learning about anthropology is one thing, but actually recreating artifacts is another.

And some UW Oshkosh students are doing just that.

When Lynn Valencic signed up for a three-week experimental anthropology class at UW Oshkosh, she wasn't quite sure what to expect.

"Taking a log and turning it into a canoe is a lot more work than I ever thought, but its been a lot of fun," Valenic said.

And that's the objective of the class. Archaeology experts say the dugout canoe is the oldest form of boat ever found.

Jeffery Behm, Associate Professor of Archaeology at UW Oshkosh, said, "This process gives them an understanding of what goes into it, and also what kinds of tools would be used."

The instructor says that burning the wood is the quickest method for hollowing it out, rather than carving it.

Behm said, "We're burning it down every day."

Each day the students line the opening with clay and start the fire. The clay protects the wood from completely burning.

Jacob Hein, a UW Oshkosh student, said, "It's very labor intensive, that's part of the fun."

The hands-on experience of creating the canoe is what sets this class apart.

Behm said, "I've always maintained that the best way to learn any technology as an archaeologist is to try your hand at replicating it."

Hein said, "If you don't really understand how something was done, well, do it."

The class is hoping to have the canoe completed by next week. Then, it will be on display in a brand new exhibit at the Oshkosh public museum.

Karla Szekeres, marketing and membership coordinator at the Oshkosh Public Museum, said, "This is very very fortunate for us to have these students so dedicated to carrying this on and learning about these native methods of creating something so wonderful."

Valencic said, "It's very dirty work, but it's well worth it."

The students tell FOX 11 they will definitely visit the canoe at its new home in the museum.