Traditional kayak history

The history of kayaks is long and very little has been recorded in the past. Archeological evidence is scarce, since much of what was used in kayaking was recycled and that which was abandoned did not survive the elements. A few fragments of ancient kayaks do survive, but many of the oldest artifacts are carvings of kayaks in ivory and other materials (Heath et al). Much of what is known from the past comes from oral histories of the kayaking peoples or from the writings of European and Russian explorers and traders contacting the Inuit, Aleut and other cultures. Some of the earliest writings that mention kayaks are from the Norse that settled in Vinland^† around 1000 AD. After that, most writings date after 1500AD, when Europeans returned to the American continent (Arima)

The complete history of the various kayaking cultures is too complex to write in these wiki pages. Only a few highlights are mentioned here. The reader is encouraged to consult the references identified at the bottom of this page to learn more.

There are several ways of identifying the different cultural groups, based on language, traditions, etc. The following diagram is loosely arranged by geographic location and different kayak types:

Kayaks , paddles and other hunting tools vary from region to region. Each form is designed to meet the needs of the people of the region and the game that they hunted, whether sea mammals, caribou or other.

† Newfoundland, in particular L'Anse aux Meadows, though other areas may have been settled.

For references:

• see History and Inuit or Aleut Culture
• An extensive bibliography is at Harvey Golden's web site