Oldest Map In The World: The Mammoth Tusk Map
In 1962 a bunch of archeologists dug up a scratched up mammoth tusk around Pavlov, Czech Republic. Now, these and some other folks think this may be the oldest representation of documented spatial awareness dumped into some form of a proto-map, created during the Upper Paleolithic period.
Source: Petr Novák, Wikipedia
The map, pre-dating its younger sibling, the Lascaux Cave star map, comes in at 13 centimeters in length and likely depicts a hunting camp near Dyje River, surrounded by mountains, valleys and routes. Should this really be a map, then the level of detail and accuracy in representing the landscape suggests quite a sophisticated understanding of geography of our Stone Age predecessors.
Researchers believe that the map was likely used for purposes of navigation, resource tracking and / or possibly as a storytelling aid. Its creation would then demonstrate not only an artistic skill but also advanced cognitive abilities, including spatial reasoning and the capacity to translate 3D landscapes into two-dimensional representations.
The mammoth tusk map confront our assumptions about the capabilities of early humans and give some visible link to our very distant past. In my mind as a cartographer, it leads me to believe that the desire to understand and document our surroundings is a fundamental aspect of our nature. And that makes me happy.
Key Facts
Age: Approximately 25,000 years old
Location of discovery: Pavlov, Czech Republic
Material: Mammoth ivory (tusk)
Size: About 13 centimeters in length
Period: Upper Paleolithic (Late Stone Age)
Depiction: A hunting camp near the Dyje River, with surrounding landscape features
Significance: Oldest known map in the world
Technique: Etched or engraved onto the tusk surface
Purpose: Likely used for navigation, resource tracking, or storytelling
Cultural context: Created by early modern humans (Homo sapiens)
