From Tusks to Tablets: Unearthing Ancient Cartography Before the Common Era
Navigation, in its essence, is not just a tool; it’s a testament to human ingenuity and survival, a cornerstone of the expansion of civilizations for millennia. In recent years, we’ve grown accustomed to the convenience offered by Google Maps and other navigation systems. This digital compass, guiding over a billion monthly users, has become an integral part of navigating everyday life. Even on familiar and well-trodden paths, I often find myself consulting Google Maps, lest I take a less efficient route. This reliance on digital navigation tools makes me wonder how ancient people roamed the earth, relying not on satellites and screens, but on the stars, the land, and their connection to the natural world.
Before I take you on a historical journey of ancient mapping, it’s essential to appreciate the unique nature of what we’re about to explore. The maps I discuss may not conform to modern definitions or expectations. Rarely scaled, oriented, or navigable in the conventional sense, these maps are more than visualizations of natural landscapes, they tell a story of how ancient people interacted with and understood their surroundings. For many of these artifacts, the scientific world has yet to come to a consensus on whether they are indeed maps or mere artistic interpretations. In the end, the full truth behind these ancient artifacts is still a matter of speculation and individual interpretation, leaving the answer in the hands of those who carved them.
Pavlov Map
Credit: Wikimedia Commons
Our exploration of the history of mapping begins in the Paleolithic period, around 25,000 years ago, with the Pavlov Map. Carved on a wooly mammoth tusk, this artifact, steeped in controversy, might be the earliest known landscape representation. While some dismiss it as artistic geometric patterns, a broader perspective, considering similar drawings from nearby sites, suggests it could be a depiction of landforms. These drawings may have offered crucial, utilitarian information for using the landscape in terms of hunting strategies and survival. This seems to be a recurring theme amongst the oldest maps, rather than being a navigable point a to point b type of map, the maps are visualizations of hunting grounds and are more linked to survival than travel.
Abauntz Cave Map
Dated almost 10,000 years after the Pavlov Map, the Abauntz Cave Map is a more obvious and agreed-upon interpretation of the landscape surrounding the Abauntz cave in Navarra, Spain. Mountains, rivers, and ponds are represented on the rock, along with drawings of the types of animals found in those areas. Scientists believe it could represent a strategy for an upcoming hunt, or tell the story of one that already happened.
Credit: Journal of Human Evolution
This would have been essential for the survival of the map's creators, aiding in hunting and resource gathering. In essence, these drawings were the early predecessors of the symbols and legends used in contemporary maps. Today, we use standardized icons and legends to denote various points of interest, landmarks, or hazards. Similarly, the animal drawings on the Abauntz Cave Map would have acted as a legend or key, helping to decode the geographical and ecological characteristics of the region.
Different markings on this map represent possible paths, locations of shelters, or places where important resources can be found. This would have been essential for the survival of the map's creators, aiding in hunting and resource gathering. In essence, these drawings were the early predecessors of the symbols and legends used in contemporary maps. Today, we use standardized icons and legends to denote various points of interest, landmarks, or hazards. Similarly, the animal drawings and markings on the Abauntz Cave Map would have acted as a legend or key, helping to decode the geographical and ecological characteristics of the region. Although more recognizable as a map than the Pavlov map, the Abauntz Cave map was still rooted in immediate practical needs.
Babylonian World Map
Expanding our view beyond the intimate hunting grounds we've previously navigated, let's journey further east to the ancient lands of Mesopotamia. Here, the Babylonian World Map, etched on a clay tablet during the 6th or 7th century BCE, marks a significant moment in the history of cartography. Unearthed in what is now Iraq, this map, a replication of an even older artifact, offers us a rare insight into the Mesopotamian understanding of their world. Regarded as the first cosmographic map, it orients North at the top and tracks the sun's journey from east to west.
Credit: World History Encyclopedia
With Babylon at its center, the world is depicted as a disk encircled by the 'Bitter River' or 'ocean,' as inscribed on the map. The ocean's periphery is fringed with eight regions, and the accompanying text on the map spins tales of monsters, mythical beasts, and epic heroes inhabiting these realms. Among the texts, some regions are described as realms where “the sun is not seen” acknowledging an ancient understanding of the sun’s unchanging trajectory from east to west. While the map no doubt captures the physical territory of the time, research shows it's equally a narrative of mythological beliefs, suggesting its purpose was as much about charting the mythological world as it was their physical one.
Thanks for going on this journey with me
Navigation, mapping, and exploring this planet has a long and rich history, and we’ve barely scratched the surface here. For more than 25,000 years humans have been trying to capture the essence of the physical world into digestible, comprehensible pieces. Whether they are carved on a mammoth tusk, etched into clay, or downloaded to your phone, maps are an integral part of human existence. Looking back at how far we’ve come, it’s refreshing to be reminded of the connection that the ancient people had with the land. How they survived and thrived with primal tools of their time, and used the natural world around them to guide them through life. Their maps and renderings were more than just guides, they bore a woven thread of storytelling, offering a unique glimpse into the lives of those who roamed the earth before us.
I hope this exploration through time has rekindled a spark of appreciation and admiration for the natural world and everything it has to offer us. At Nova, we are more than mapmakers; we are storytellers, innovators, and explorers, carrying forward the legacy of those who mapped the unknown before us.
Sincerely,
Kasha
