Prehistoric Indigenous sites on Belle Isle

Archaeologists have recorded prehistoric Indigenous occupation evidence on Belle Isle, including shell middens and lithic artifacts consistent with Late Woodland and earlier periods. These surface and subsurface finds indicate repeated seasonal use of the island for fishing, processing, and habitation prior to European contact. Artifacts and site records from Belle Isle are part of the regional archaeological record used by researchers studying Indigenous use of the Detroit River corridor. Documentation of these finds appears in state archaeological site inventories and regional research reports.