[Paddlewise] Routes: quilts, carpets and songs

G'Day,

Recently came across a number of old techniques for 'navigating'.

Apparently African Americans during the Civil War designed escape routes
into patchwork quilts and Afghans in ancient times recorded the location of
battles onto maps woven into their carpets (war carpets). A method that
particularly appeals was described by Brian Wilson in 'Dances With Waves'
where Irish fisherman memorised a sequence of bearings in songs that were
handed down through the ages, very similar to the Australian aboriginal
groups who had 'songlines' for many purposes one of which was navigation.

Wondered what other methods people might have heard of. (Suspect the quilt
story is well known in the US but I'ld not heard it before). How did the
Icelandic people navigate?

All the best, PeterO

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