Inughuit Lost Technologies Through Isolation

Before explorer John Ross reached them in 1818, the Inughuit of Arctic Greenland had lived in such deep isolation that they were reportedly unaware other people existed, including other Inuit groups. Colder conditions had cut them off around the 17th century, and they gradually lost the knowledge needed to build kayaks and umiaks. In the mid-19th century, visiting Baffin Inuit reintroduced boats, leisters, and bows and arrows, while the Inughuit taught them a more advanced form of sled technology.

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