Whereas most readers would by no means count on to see the phrases “snow goggles” and “historical historical past” in the identical sentence, snow goggles are literally nothing new. Regardless of being a modern-day necessity in snow-covered areas, snow goggles had been first invented as an indispensable survival instrument by the ancestors of the Inuit within the Arctic North of historical historical past. They usually had been fairly snazzy too!

In case you’re questioning why the proto-Inuit would have wanted such a classy accent, assume once more. These historical snow goggles , relationship again so far as 2,000 years, had been first developed as an indigenous reply to a painful situation generally known as snow blindness. The roots of snow goggles have been traced again to the Outdated Bering Sea tradition that existed on each side of the Bering Strait . The custom of utilizing snow goggles was then handed right down to the present-day Eskimos.

Attributable to extended or extra publicity to ultraviolet gentle reflecting off the snow or ice, in addition to the freezing wind, the situation is in essence a type of sunburn of the cornea which may be prevented by utilizing eye safety. This was significantly vital in a area which experiences 24-hour daylight in the course of the summer season, or as a lot as six months of daylight on the North Pole .

Snow goggles, a.okay.a. ikgaak or nigaugek, had been traditionally utilized by the precursors of the Inuit and the Yupik peoples. Made from supplies discovered within the surrounding atmosphere, corresponding to antlers, walrus ivory, whalebone, bark and even driftwood, these snow goggles are examples of primitive sustainable engineering.

{Photograph} by Archibald Fleming of an Inuit man carrying wood snow goggles with slits for eye safety. (Public area)

The indigenous peoples of what’s now Alaska would carve these supplies to suit their faces completely, after which add slits to permit for restricted visibility. This is able to assist defend their eyes from the glare brought on by the snow-covered environment. In some circumstances, the snow goggles had been painted darkish black to scale back the blinding glare much more.

Particular person snow goggles had been embellished with distinctive markings, patterns and designs, which leading to one in every of a sort eyewear. They had been then hooked up to the face utilizing natural cords, made out of caribou sinew for instance. Snow goggles different in accordance with local weather, geography and entry to uncooked supplies. Within the Aleutian Islands, the Aleuts used visors as a substitute. A pair of snow goggles found on St. Lawrence Island and utilized by the Siberian Yupik folks had slits resembling Venetian blinds.

Surprisingly, these historical snow goggles functioned very like corrective eyewear, lots of of years earlier than eyeglasses had been first invented. A lot the identical as a pinhole digicam, the slit has additionally been discovered to enhance eyesight. May it’s that the proto- Inuit had been additionally deliberately enhancing their means to see?

High picture: Walrus ivory snow goggles, created by the proto-Inuit Thule tradition of Alaska, relationship again to about 800 to 1200 AD. Supply: Public domain