Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 08/09/2008 - 21:29
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Nuvuk Archaeology Studies

Hello team!

I enjoyed reading the journals. In your journal, you mentioned that Nuvuk people use a boat as a method of transportation. As Frank Kelly mentioned Nuvuk's boats, covered with seal skin, are essential tool for fishing and hunting sea animals. I was wondering what is the main part of these boats. You said that trees don’t grow there and that finding pieces of wood during your excavations was significant discovery. If the boats are not made from wood, then what are they made from?

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 21:31

Guest

Oh....I forgot to introducing myself. My name is Dela and I can't wait to hear your response. Thank you!

Sat, 08/09/2008 - 23:07

Frank Kelley

Hi Dela!!
Thanks for the question about the boats. You are right about the seal skin covering, the women sew the pieces together over a wooden frame. The wood came from the ocean in the form of driftwood. Loads of driftwood floats around the area, some landed on the beach, was sorted into good stuff and not such good stuff. The good stuff was "worked" or carved until it could be used for a boat part. 
The boats were very light and flexible which was very helpful when hunting marine mammals like seals, walrus, and eventually whales. Similar boats are still used today during spring whale hunts.
The driftwood feature continues to provide lots of material to look at, map, and collect. I'll try and get sketch done for tomorrow.
Thanks for reading the journal. Keep asking good questions.
Frank