Inuit Maps

[ravells]

I made a discovery today, which is that the Inuit Indians made three dimensional maps using driftwood. These maps did not look at all like maps in the conventional sense, the edge of the wood was carved to represent a coastline. Thus they could feel the shape of the coastline in the dark when they were in their kayaks. If dropped into the water the wood would float and the map would never fade.

I can't find much about it on the web at all - there is a payfor article on JSTOR and there was this. and this (which is the site from which I got the picture).

What never ceases to surprise me is how practical and innovative humans are in approaching problems and how diverse the solutions of different cultures.

How cool is this eh?