Oldest map in Europe from 500 BC

[Astronuc]

Archaeologists find western world's oldest map
By Hilary Clarke in Rome
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...ap18.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/11/18/ixworld.html

The oldest map of anywhere in the western world, dating from about 500 BC, has been unearthed in southern Italy. Known as the Soleto Map, the depiction of Apulia, the heel of Italy's "boot", is on a piece of black-glazed terracotta vase about the size of a postage stamp.

Hopefully there is more.

 

[marcus]

Archaeologists find western world's oldest map
By Hilary Clarke in Rome
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...ap18.xml&sSheet=/news/2005/11/18/ixworld.html
Hopefully there is more.

neato,

thanks for flagging this!

the map is or seems a terrifically important part of culture to me

just like the greeks

they always wanted to know the geometrical layout
and how far things were,

like Aristarchus in 250 BC reckoning the relative sizes of the sun and moon (from primitive obs.) and coming to the heliocentric realization more than 1500 years before Copernicus

map the Earth map the heavens---triangles drawn with a stick in the sand---areas volumes slices----the clear light of the Mediterranean

and this shard of black glazed redline pottery, or is it whiteline: can't decide from the picture

 

[Greg Bernhardt]

The map, which was discovered in the remains of a Greek settlement near the town of Soleto, shows important roads, rivers, cities and even some of the region's natural features. It is believed to have been used as a navigational aid for traders and travelers.

The map was found by a team of Italian and British archaeologists led by Professor Lucrezia Ungaro from the University of Salento. They were excavating the remains of an ancient Greek settlement known as Messapian, which flourished in southern Italy between the 8th and 3rd centuries BC.

The map is a significant discovery as it provides evidence of advanced cartographic skills in the ancient world. It also sheds light on the trade networks and cultural exchanges that existed in the Mediterranean during this period.

According to Professor Ungaro, the map shows a level of detail and accuracy that was previously unknown in ancient maps. She said, "It is a remarkable find, not only because it is the oldest map of the western world, but also because of its sophistication and accuracy."

The map is divided into four sections, each representing a different area of Apulia. The roads are depicted as straight lines, while the rivers are shown as wavy lines. The cities are marked with small dots, and some of the natural features, such as the Gargano promontory and the Salento peninsula, are also depicted.

Although the map is small, it provides a wealth of information about the region, including the location of important cities such as Taranto, Brindisi, and Bari. It also shows the routes that were used to transport goods and people between these cities.

The map is believed to have been created by a skilled artisan, possibly a Greek potter, who had a good knowledge of the region. It is thought that the map was used by traders and travelers to navigate their way through the region, and to plan their journeys.

The Soleto Map is now on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Taranto, where it is attracting a lot of attention from visitors. Professor Ungaro hopes that the discovery of this ancient map will lead to further research and discoveries about the trade and cultural exchanges that took place in the Mediterranean during this period.