Eli5: Why did civilizations such as the Pre Dorset, Thule, and Inuit not migrate south if their environments were so harsh and extreme?

Question

I read a few articles where some of these civilizations main focus was keeping warm because they were located so far north. So why would they not migrate more south?

In: 661

Answer 1

The way south may not have been obvious. Groups that migrated across Beringia into the rest of North America almost certainly came down the Pacific coast, a relatively temperate strip. The path they took is almost certainly under water now. Once you are past the Pacific coast, they way South is very very rough, and maybe even worse when the glacial retreat was more recent. Nor would it have been obvious that if you “pushed through” you’d find milk and honey on the other side.

There was apparently some communication: experts seem confident that bow and arrow technology was introduced from Asia and went south. But their were clearly significant physical barriers to cultural diffusion.