Red River Canoe Arrives

The truck is pulling in!

The long awaited arrival of the dugout canoe found in 2017 by boaters along the bank of the Red River just north of Shreveport to the Red River National Wildlife Refuge has finally happened! This morning, birders and hikers got to be surprised by the arrival of this canoe that was carved likely over 600 years ago from a single bald cypress tree. Measuring over 34 feet long and nearly 3 feet in width, this canoe required some heavy lifting and engineering feats to move from the truck to the long empty display case. Archaelogists determined this canoe to have been made by ancestors of the Caddo Nation. It is one of the largest prehistoric canoes ever found in the southeastern United States.

Staff and volunteers worked hard carefully uncovering and unloading the canoe.

According to the Louisiana Division of Archaeology, “the canoe reflects the ingenuity, craftsmanship, and river-based lifewys of the Caddo people, who lived in northwest Louisiana since at least the 900s CE. Water transportation played a vital role in their social interactions and trade between villages.”

Heavy equipment and knowledgeable staff carefully lifted the canoe from the truck to the awaiting rolling cradle

After the canoe was found, the owners of the private property eagerly donated it to the state of Louisiana. Archaelogists, volunteers, and heavy equipment carefully moved the waterlogged 1,500 lb artifact where it was then sent to Texas A&M Conservation Research Lab for careful preservation.

Many hands, or in this case strong backs, make light work

The canoe was rolled up the well thought out path and right into the awaiting display case.

It fits!

Safely supported and carefully rolled in, the canoe fits perfectly in the designed exhibit case. Afer years of preservation work, delays and travel complications, the canoe is now resting in a climate controlled exhibit at our very own Red River National Wildlife Refuge.

Visitors are welcome!

You can now see a part of our local hiistory when you visit the Red River National Wildlife Refuge.