tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321070.post428771931227761908..comments2024-02-27T11:26:39.655-07:00Comments on Southern Rockies Nature Blog: A new birthplace for skiing?Chas S. Cliftonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00923547685265741325noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321070.post-7194758852657770382007-02-07T11:30:00.000-07:002007-02-07T11:30:00.000-07:00Independent invention + metal tools, wouldn't you ...Independent invention + metal tools, wouldn't you say?<br /><br />Lacking good metal tools, the Woodland tribes of North America invented webbed snowshoes instead.<br /><br />At least, I always figured that their inability to cut, shape, and smooth larger pieces of wood was what kept them from inventing skis.<br /><br />(Now I have to start thinking, though, about what sort of copper (?) tools were used by Northwest tribes for their woodworking.)Chas S. Cliftonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00923547685265741325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321070.post-70572184644418316772007-02-07T11:26:00.000-07:002007-02-07T11:26:00.000-07:00The Uralic, which includes Finno-Ugrian, language ...The Uralic, which includes Finno-Ugrian, language connection to the Altai is tenuous at best (intriguing grammatical parallels, but virtually no connectable vocabulary). However, Finno-Ugrian speakers stretched at least the far east along the shores of the Arctic Ocean. If the concept spread north from the Altai, it might have enormously facilitated life on Eurasia’s north slope and greatly aided westward migration of Uralic speakers. From Samoyed territory, one might indeed ski to Finland for much of the year. Intriguing idea. Frankly, though, skis seem like an obvious enough idea for those sufficiently plagued by snow that independent invention may best clear the Occam’s Razor test.Peculiarhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15849337750990440147noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321070.post-34784277642404408402007-02-07T09:52:00.000-07:002007-02-07T09:52:00.000-07:00Yes, but I doubt that people skied back and forth....Yes, but I doubt that people skied back and forth. <br />:-)Chas S. Cliftonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00923547685265741325noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6321070.post-53160686661038205002007-02-07T08:33:00.000-07:002007-02-07T08:33:00.000-07:00Don't you know EVERYTHING started in the Altai(:-)...Don't you know EVERYTHING started in the Altai(:-))?<br /><br />Actually as Peculiar will tell you there are Altai- Finnish linguistic links.Steve Bodiohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14434597061701369867noreply@blogger.com