Top 7 Oldest Maps of The World Ever Found

Nowadays, most of us will rely a lot on Google Maps or even other similar apps like Waze as a virtual map to guide us to our destinations. Physical maps have pretty much become obsolete when navigating to our favorite spot as everything is done by the fingertips. 

However, a long time ago maps like this have become an essential part of life and sometimes important documents can only be owned by certain people. Cryptographer is the individual responsible for drawing the maps and they will tend to put up signs or fake cities on purpose to ease the recognition in case their maps were ever counterfeited.

ADVERT

 

But have you ever asked yourself what are some of the earliest maps ever created by mankind? Of course, the early generation of maps will be completely different from what we actually see now considering the technologies that they have are definitely scarce. 

7. Hecataeus Map (550-476 BC)

Hecataues is well known for being a historian and the first Greek geographer. Hecataeus lives in a similar city to Anaximander who has been credited as the first person to ever create a map. However, both of them live in a completely different time but Hecataeus has become inspired by the works' of Anaximander in improving the world's map. 

The world map created by Hecataeus is very precise and detailed as it includes the book Periodos ges. This book has become one of the work comprehension related to geography in Europe, Asia, and Africa at the time. 

Aside from emphasizing the known locations in the region, Hecataues also attached information about the people and places that will be found by the person who uses his map.

6. Anaximander Map (610-546 BC)

Despite most old maps being drawn in ancient times, most Greek philosophers during the pra-Socrat Anaximander times were given the credit as the first person to ever publish a world map. 

Unlike its previous maps which showed roadways, cities, and other geological features, Anaximander has chosen to show all the land that has been resided by the ancient Greeks. 

This way, the Anaximander map is considered the first world map to ever be created. There have not been any copies of the Anaximander map to ever exist, however, there have been written scriptures visualizing in detail what has been described by the map. 

The map showed many important locations that include Europe, Asia, Libya(the name before Africa), the Mediterranean Sea, the Black Sea, River Nile, Lake Maeotis, and Phasis River(now called Rioni River). 

5. Imago Mundi(600 BC) 

Imago Mundi or more known as the World Babylon Map is considered the oldest map in the world since the map itself described how the world are at that moment. Regions in the map were labeled and some parts of the map drawn on clay were written in ancient cuneiform.

ADVERT

Despite some parts being lost, this carved map pictures Babylon which is located at the center of the map close to places like Assyria and Elam which is surrounded by the "Salted Sea" that encircled the entire city. 

This map was found in Sippar, Iran, and is now being displayed at the British Museum in London.

4. Turin Papyrus Map (1160BC)    

The Turin Papyrus map as a whole is known to be the oldest topography map that exist in ancient times. The map was created somewhere in 1160 BC and since the record was kept carefully by the ancient Egyptians, researchers were able to find out who carved the map and its purpose of it.

The map was designed by a very popular writer named Amennakhte Ramesses IV who wished to drill the Wadi Hammamat in the Eastern desert. Ramesses IV decided to use the bekhen stone to build his own replica sculptures. 

3. Abauntz Lamizulo Rock Map (14,000 BC)

This hand-sized carved map that was found at the Abauntz Lamizulo cave in Navarre, Spain was believed to be the oldest map to ever be found in Western Europe. At first, the rock was found in 1994, and researchers needed around 15 years to be able to unveil the meaning behind the lines that were carved on the rock.

According to the research team led by Pilar Utrilla from the University of Zaragoza, Spain, the carvings became one of the simplest sketches on the map that describes the surroundings of the cave. 

It may have been used for planning a hunting activity for days to come or even possibly a narrative story on what has happened in the cave.

2. Lascaux Star Map (17,000 BC)

The pre-historic drawings that were discovered in the Lascaux cave are some of the few beautiful pieces of art that were left behind by our ancestors. There were thousands of animals, humans, and signs of abstracts in the drawings as well as interpretation of what's being drawn on the map. 

It has been a way of communication for years and one of the latest theories showed that some of the drawings indicate the map of the pre-historic stars. According to a researcher, Dr. Michael Rappenglueck from Munich University, some of the pinpoints of the drawings on the map were known as the Shaft of the Dead Man.

ADVERT

This name really suits constellations such as Taurus, Pleiades, and also Summer Triangle.

1. Mammoth Tusk Map (25,000 BC)

This gigantic mammoth tusk was found in the Pavlov village in the Czech Republic and it is believed to be the oldest map in the world. Despite Archeologist not being too sure about it, the signs on the tusk might be showing the views of Pavlov at the time back then.

The curved sign that was being carved was thought to be representing the Dyje river(Thaya). There is also a symbol that indicates the slope of clay which disappeared in the 20th century after the clay was used to make bricks.

The original tusk map is being kept safe at the Institute of Archeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences. 

Source: 

• History

• BBC News

• Smithsonian Magazine

Also read: Top 5 Most Expensive House in The World