600 years before Europeans arrived, Great Lakes farmers transformed the land.

The article focuses on the discovery of a sophisticated agricultural network established by Indigenous peoples in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, specifically the Menominee tribe, which thrived for six centuries prior to European contact. Researchers utilized drone-based lidar technology to uncover an extensive system of fields, characterized by long, low ridges that enhanced soil fertility and extended the growing season for crops like corn, beans, and squash. The findings challenge existing perceptions of pre-Columbian agriculture in the northern Great Lakes region, revealing that these agricultural practices were complex and significant, despite the absence of large population centers. The study highlights the importance of collaboration between Indigenous communities and academic researchers in uncovering historical agricultural practices. [Extracted from the article]