Snow goggles were created by native Alaskans centuries ago to protect eyes and improve vision.

Anyone who has spent a lot of time outdoors in the snow knows how important it is to protect your eyes. The bright sun bouncing off the white snow can lead to snow blindness, a very uncomfortable situation caused by too much exposure to UV light. Indigenous peoples in the Alaska region were certainly aware of these dangers, and have been creating eyewear to protect themselves for thousands of years.

Inupiaq snow goggles made from ivory. Created 1880-1900. (Photo: National Museum of the American Indian)
Thousands of years ago, Inuit and Yupik people of the Arctic carved narrow slits into ivory, antler and wood to create snow goggles. This diminished exposure to direct and reflected ultraviolet rays thereby reducing eye strain and preventing snow blindness .

Called ilgaak in Inuktitut and nigaugek in Central Yupik, these snow goggles look a bit different than the ones you’d use when hitting the ski slopes. The goggles created by the Inuit and Yupik peoples have two thin slits and are carved out of a variety of materials. Wood, bones, and even whale baleen are all used to fashion these googles, which are still produced today.

There are quite a few examples at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and they are fascinating to look at. The small slits not only reduce glare and reflection, but they can actually improve vision. By focusing the light, the slits act much as a pinhole camera would and help sharpen and focus vision. It’s a system that goes far back for the Indigenous peoples of the region and snow goggles have been found in Inuit archeological sites up to 2,000 years old.

Over time, the materials for the goggles may have changed—one can find them in plastic today—but the vintage design remains. It’s a classic case of early engineering through learned experience and, it turns out, this traditional design holds up.

The small slits both protect the eyes from snow blindness and improve vision.

Inupiaq snow goggles made from baleen and sinew. Created c. 1890. (Photo: National Museum of the American Indian)

Wood and bone are just some of the materials used to create these snow goggles.

Baffinland Inuit snow goggles made from wood. Created c. 1920. (Photo: National Museum of the American Indian)
Inupiaq snow goggles made from caribou hoofs, sealskin, sinew. Created 1961. (Photo: National Museum of the American Indian)

The design continues to be produced today, using both modern and traditional materials.

Inuit snow goggles made from caribou bone. Created 2002. (Photo: National Museum of the American Indian)
Contemporary snow goggles made from plastic. Created 1970-1990. (Photo: National Museum of the American Indian)

Related Posts

A Glimpse into Roman History: Astonishingly Intact Military Tent Found at Vindolanda

The archaeological site of Vindolanda in northern England has yielded many fascinating insights into life in a Roman frontier settlement. Located along Hadrian’s Wall, Vindolanda was an auxiliary fort and civilian settlement that thrived for nearly 400 …

Read more

Triceratops Skull Found in Norway Stuns Scientists and Rewrites Prehistoric History

For the very fist time a complete original dinosaur ѕkull is exhibited in Norway thanks to a generous private donation. 67 million years ago the Triceratops “Roar” roamed about on alluvial plains of North-America alongside other well-known dinosaurs …

Read more

Revealing Hidden Potential: Ancient Egyptian Pyramids as Models for Future Hydrogen Energy

Did Nikola Tesla know the secrets of ancient Egyptian energy production? The ancient Egyptian pyramids are some of the most fascinating structures in the world. Built over 4,500 years ago, they were constructed with incredible precision and engineering …

Read more

Young Explorer Discovers Massive 5-Inch Prehistoric Shark Tooth from 22 Million Years Ago

In a tale that blends youthful curiosity with a prehistoric twist, an 8-year-old boy has become an unwitting paleontologist after unearthing a remarkable artifact during a family fossil һᴜпt. The young adventurer’s discovery? A jаw-dropping 5-inch-long …

Read more

Don’t Miss This: The Enchanting Image of a Mermaid!

The image of the mermaid has eпchaпted aпd mystified hυmaпity for ceпtυries, captivatiпg imagiпatioпs across cυltυres aпd geпeratioпs. With the torso of a hυmaп aпd the tail of a fish, mermaids are icoпic figυres iп folklore, mythology, aпd popυlar …

Read more

Fossilized Enigma: Uncovering the Secrets of Lesvos’ Rare “Ancient Octopus”

Nestled within the serene landscapes of the Greek island of Lesvos lies a geological treasure that has captivated the attention of scientists and enthusiasts alike. Dubbed the “rare octopus” by locals, this remarkable fossil stone, estimated to be a staggering …

Read more

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *