UWM underwater archaeologist appears on History Channel show

A woman sits on a chair while her image is displayed on a TV monitor in the foreground

When the History Channel looked for an expert to talk about some of the world’s biggest underwater mysteries, they found one in Milwaukee. At UW-Milwaukee, in fact.

Ashley Lemke, an associate professor of anthropology who is an expert in underwater archaeology, flew to New York City over the summer to appear on “Mysteries Unearthed,” a new show hosted by actor Danny Trejo that explores some of the world’s most significant discoveries and the unusual ways they were found.

The show’s debut episode, broadcast Dec. 6, featured Lemke’s work studying structures at the bottom of Lake Huron that were apparently constructed by humans some 10,000 years ago to help hunt caribou. Researchers think the structures funneled the animals into areas where hunters could more easily kill them.

A woman stands in front of a flag in a frame hanging on a wall
While in New York, Lemke visited the Explorers Club, famed for its explorers and scientists, to which she had just been elected. One room includes club flags that have gone on notable expeditions. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Lemke)

Lemke, however, is asked about a few different discoveries on that episode – including mysterious structures off Yonaguni Island, the westernmost island of Japan, that some think could be part of the lost Kingdom of Mu, said to be wiped out by a natural disaster in the earthquake- and tsunami-prone area. Or, they might just be natural rock formations of sandstone, which can break off at right angles and appear to be manmade.

In the fifth episode of “Mysteries Unearthed,” broadcast Jan. 3, Lemke talks about two more underwater discoveries. In one, a scuba diver off the coast of Italy in 1972 discovered two life-sized bronze statues from ancient Greece, two of only 30 known intact bronze statues remaining from the period. In the other, a diver looking for sponges in 1900 found one of the world’s most significant shipwrecks, that of a Roman cargo ship from more than 2,000 years ago filled with treasure and important artifacts.

A woman stands next to a chair in front of a large portrait of a standing man
Lemke poses beneath a portrait of arctic explorer Peter Freuchen in the trophy room of the Explorers Club. (Photo courtesy of Ashley Lemke)

Lemke enjoyed the television experience.

“I’ve been on live TV with the Weather Channel before, but this was really different since I got to go to a studio and was interviewed about six different archaeological discoveries,” Lemke said. “It was really neat to be part of a brand-new show, and I’m very honored they asked me to be a part of it.”

Making the experience even better: Lemke visited the clubhouse of New York’s fabled Explorers Club, a professional society formed in 1904 to promote scientific exploration. Lemke had just been elected as a fellow of the club – a higher rank than just a member – just prior to the trip.

To become a fellow, a person must be sponsored by a club member and elected by the board. A fellow is someone who has made “actual contributions to scientific knowledge in the field of geographical exploration or allied sciences,” according to the club’s rules.

Alas, Lemke didn’t get to meet Trejo.

“But they are hoping for a second season, so fingers crossed!”

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