Buzz
In the developed world, electricity is often taken for granted. During summer, air conditioners run non-stop, and in the winter, we turn up the heat. But how did people manage before the invention of electricity? In places like Scandinavia, Russia, and Alaska, where months of darkness and freezing temperatures prevail, survival took ingenuity.
How did our ancestors brave the cold without the luxuries of today's technology? We're familiar with burning wood or using coal for warmth, but there were many other, less-known strategies that helped them make it through harsh winters.
10. The Three Dog Night
When the term “three dog night” is mentioned, does an iconic American rock band come to mind? If you're a fan of classic rock, it likely does. But if rock isn’t your scene, here's a little backstory.
Three Dog Night is a legendary rock band that originated in California during the 1960s. The Grammy-nominated group is celebrated for their famous songs like “One” and “Mama Told Me (Not to Come).” While fans have cherished their music for decades, many may not know that the band's name is actually inspired by an expression referring to extreme cold temperatures. Some say it comes from the Australian Aborigines, while others believe it originates from North America, specifically from the Eskimos.
According to the legend, when firewood ran low and the temperature dropped significantly, people would bring their dog into bed to keep warm. On particularly bitter nights, it was said that an owner would need three dogs in bed to survive the freezing cold. A 'three-dog night' therefore describes a situation where it’s so cold that you’d need three dogs in your bed for warmth. There’s nothing quite like cuddling with your dog on a chilly evening—preferably with a roaring fire and a nice cup of tea. Though, three dogs in bed might be a bit much…
9. Saunas
With roots in Finland, the land of saunas, my ancestors must have passed down a deep appreciation for them. Perhaps it's my Finnish heritage, but I find true tranquility in sitting quietly in a warm sauna. I even enjoy the ritual of diving into a cold pool in the evening, then sprinting to the sauna as fast as I can (though, admittedly, it might not be for everyone).
The first recorded use of saunas dates back over 2,000 years. However, they were quite different from the saunas we use today. The early saunas were carved into the sides of embankments and lined with stone. Heating them could take up to half a day!
This evolved into a structure above the ground, built from wood, where stones were heated by fire. As the temperature rose, smoke would fill the sauna and slowly escape through a small vent at the back. The modern sauna eventually emerged, with stones placed over an electric heating element, and water poured over them to generate the comforting heat and steam we know and love.
Saunas are a vital aspect of Finnish culture, not only for their numerous health benefits but also because they’ve helped Finns—and many other cultures—survive long, bitter winters. A sauna raises a person's body temperature sufficiently so that when they are wrapped in blankets or warm clothing afterward, their body retains that heat for a longer period. This technique is also said to be perfect for those who enjoy winter camping in the mountains!
8. Heavy Curtains
Before central heating was invented, curtains were an essential means of protecting homes from the cold. The first known use of curtains dates back to ancient Egypt, where animal hides were draped over doorways and windows to block drafts (though keeping them up was often a challenge). During medieval times, tapestries were hung on castle walls to provide insulation and also served as room dividers.
With the advent of glass in the 13th century, window coverings began to evolve. By the 17th century, glass windows were more widely available in homes, keeping much of the cold air outside, but people still hung curtains to offer privacy and warmth. Today, curtains are often used for decorative purposes, though they can still help reduce air conditioner usage.
7. Animal Dung
Animal dung has been used for centuries by farmers to enrich soil quality. My 13-year-old niece even runs a small business selling her pet rabbit’s poop to people who use it to fertilize their gardens. The small, round pellets are easy to add to plant pots. (It seems like there's a market for everything these days). But dung isn’t just used for fertilizer; it can also serve as a fuel source.
In the 1970s, ethnographer Carol Kramer discovered that people in parts of Iran actually bought dung from one another (similar to how we buy manure for fertilizer today). She believed that animal dung played a crucial role in the transition from hunter-gatherer societies to settled communities in the Neolithic Middle East. When dried, dung burns much longer than wood alone, which allowed people to focus on farming and raising livestock.
Scientists are currently investigating this further. Some dairy farms have discovered that cow manure can produce energy, eliminating the need for an electric bill. Toyota is also getting involved. The company plans to use cow manure to generate hydrogen, which they will use to power the hydrogen fuel-cell cars they manufacture. All of this comes from a little cow pie!
6. Soapstone
The use of soapstone for heating purposes dates back centuries. Native Americans once carved bowls from soapstone for cooking. In the mid-1800s, people used soapstone as foot and bed warmers. The stone would be placed by the fire to heat up, then rubbed along the mattress once cool enough to touch. It would be placed at the foot of the bed, with its remaining heat keeping the feet warm throughout the night.
Soapstone is known for its incredible heat-conductive properties, which made it an invaluable heating source for our ancestors. This dense stone retains and radiates heat extremely well, making it perfect for heating purposes. Its density also allows it to be reheated multiple times without breaking, unlike some other stones.
5. Subterranean Homes
In Iceland, people have devised a clever solution for extreme cold and the scarcity of timber. For centuries, they have built underground or 'subterranean' homes using simple stone or wooden frames. Once the frame was constructed, turf would be layered on top to provide insulation. The natural warmth of the surrounding earth would keep the home warm, almost like a blanket.
Because the home is partly or fully underground, it benefits from more stable temperatures, sheltered from the elements such as rain, snow, and wind. Partial subterranean homes may be experiencing a resurgence in modern times, as they are considered environmentally friendly and visually striking. I believe we'll see more of these unique, eco-conscious homes in the future.
4. Passive Solar
In various historical contexts, passive solar techniques have been employed both alongside and independently from subterranean homes. In homes built underground, the northern walls were buried, while the southern side was left open to sunlight, capturing warmth to naturally heat the home.
Passive solar heating, first utilized by the Chinese in 4000 BC, involves positioning the home’s doors to face south, allowing the low winter sun to provide warmth. A study by the National Renewable Energy Lab in the 1980s analyzed Chinese structures and found that passive solar energy could increase indoor temperatures by 15°. While this is not enough to eliminate electricity costs, it remains a significant benefit.
3. Hibernation
Hibernation may have played a crucial role in helping our ancestors survive winters before electricity was available. The Sima de los Huesos cave in Northern Spain, rich in archaeological significance due to the discovery of numerous Neanderthal bones, shows signs of healing lesions in the bones, similar to those seen in hibernating mammals.
These fossils also exhibited seasonal patterns that suggest bone growth was temporarily halted for several months each year. This indicates that early hominids may not have been able to accumulate enough body fat to endure the extreme cold of long winters. As a result, they likely entered a metabolic state, akin to 'hibernation,' which helped them survive these harsh conditions. This disruption in bone growth is believed to be linked to this hibernation-like state. While this theory may spark debates within the scientific community, it presents an intriguing and testable hypothesis, particularly through genomic studies of the Sima people.
2. Hood Chair
The hood chair was designed in 16th-century France specifically for porters, who often had to remain near the cold, drafty entrance of a home. For those unfamiliar, a hood chair features a rounded top that shields the sitter from chilly drafts.
Typically made from wicker, wood, or occasionally velvet or leather, these chairs offered insulation, especially when placed near a fireplace during the winter. The structure trapped warmth in the back and sides, making them ideal for the cold. While no longer common since the role of porters has disappeared, there may be potential for the revival of hood chairs as a source of radiant heat in modern households.
1. Compost
For over two millennia, rural farmers in China have utilized the heat generated by composting as an agricultural tool. They would dig a trench, fill it with manure, and cover it with topsoil before planting their vegetables. The heat produced by the microbial activity in the compost enabled them to extend their growing season by one to two months during the spring and fall.
In the 1970s, Jean Pain took composting to the next level with a revolutionary method. He created what he called a 'Pain Mound,' which consisted of brushwood and water-filled tubing to allow for heat exchange within the compost. By circulating the heated water through pipes connected to a cast iron heater, Pain was able to heat his farmhouse’s water for six months. Not only did this method provide warmth, but Pain also claimed it allowed him to grow crops throughout the year.
