1/5/13: Ancient Tools of Navigation- Polynesians
The Polynesians were the first people to travel through oceans. They developed a reliable means of wayfinding based not on science and mathematics, but rather on their innate knowledge of the seas and sky. They were able to steer their canoes over different locations by using the sun, stars, sea well patterns, cloud formations, and bird flight habits.
The Vikings
The Vikings used the stars and sun to aid their voyages. They relied on tools called peloruses, the sun stone, the bearing dial, the sun shadow board, and the sun compass. They also used the North Star or Polaris to help them navigate at night.
The Chinese
The main tool used by Chinese navigators and pilots was the water compass. They used a slightly different method than the Europeans to find the latitude. Navigators measure the altitude of Polaris above the horizon with an instrument called a qianxingban. Captains also used sailing charts, which were much larger than their western counterparts. To find a depth and to determine what was on the bottom of the body of wawter traveled, pilots used a lead line.