Bedolina Map
The Bedolina Map is a prehistoric rock engraving located in Valcamonica, Italy pertaining to the Capo di Ponte municipality. It is one of the oldest known cartographic representations in the world alongside the efforts of old Babylon or ye ol’ Anaximander of Miletus. The craving was etched on to the surface of a Permian sandstone likely somewhere between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. It is located at an altitude of 530m on a slope polished by a Pleistocene glacier at 9 meters long and 4 meters wide.
By Luca Giarelli - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0
The map is part of and extended range of petroglyphs along Val Camonica valley together with over 140,000 other carvings spanning from Neolithic all the way to Middle Ages. Considering its scale, complexity, potential socio-agricultural significance and a fact that it’s a map, the Rock 1 of Bedolina stands out from among the rest. Taking a closer look may give us quite a look into the topography as well as a detail of the society around the time of its creation.
The general belief is that the map was engraved onto the rock by Camunni — a group of ancient Alpine people. Despite its detail and scale, the debate still stands as to what was its exact purpose. There are two general views — one of them argues that the map is a literal cartographic represantation of the local area. On the other hand, there is an opinion that It serves as a ceremonial and/or spiritual representation of the world blending geographical elements with cosmological or ritual significance, much like the Babylonian map of the world.
Just like any map, Rock 1 may surefire serve as a solid etnographic base of Camunni, their societal organization, priorities, connection to land and nature, agriculture and structure of their territory. And, just like any old, weathering rock, there are ongoing conservation efforts to keep it nice & neat for the generations of researchers to come.
Interpretation of the Map’s Locations
Fields: Represented by grid-like patterns, likely denoting cultivated land.
Pathways: Intersecting lines suggesting roads or trails.
Settlements: Circular motifs, possibly indicating villages or sacred spaces.
Irrigation or Water Channels: Lines connected to fields, interpreted as irrigation systems.
I personally really like the fact that a bunch of folks up on a glacier took a large chunk of their time to whack a rock to make sure they find their way around their neighbourhood. Or perhaps a need to leave a trace of their tribal organization for the generations and aliens to come, in order to show us how they percieved and navigated the world around them.
By Ruparch - It's a scanning of an archaologic tracing made by Footspets of Man, an archaeological society in shich I take part. Previously published: EuroPreArt, online database of European Prehistoric Art, http://www.europreart.net, CC BY-SA 3.0
Key Facts
Location: Val Camonica, Italy, near Capo di Ponte.
Time Period: Iron Age (circa 6th–4th centuries BCE).
Creators: Likely the Camunni people.
Material: Engraved sandstone.
Purpose: Possible map of the local area, ceremonial depiction, or symbolic representation.
UNESCO World Heritage Status: Designated in 1979 as part of the Val Camonica rock art site.
