In the nineteenth century, the Iñupiat used sleds for winter travel and transportation (Fig. 1). They were usually build of driftwood, with lashings of baleen (fibrous material from the jaw of the baleen whale) or skin. Sled runners were often shod with bone or ivory.

The engravings show sleds drawn by one to four dogs, hitched to a central trace, pulling heavy loads, with a driver sitting on the sled or running along with it (Fig. 2). So-called basket sleds with ‘railings’ typical of north Alaska (qixbich; Fig. 2) are depicted, as well as sleds reminiscent of northeast Siberian sled types with up-standers and runners bowing up and backwards at front (Fig. 3).

Another smaller, lighter type of sled was used to haul kayaks or umiaqs to the ice edge (Fig. 4) for hunting. While paddling, the sled could be placed on top of the kayak behind the manhole, ready to use when reaching the ice edge again.