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Archaeologists have discovered the oldest three-dimensional map ever recorded in a prehistoric cave in France, with astonishing details that indicate how our ancestors represented their world thousands of years ago.
Scientists France and Australia have announced a stunning discovery deep within a cave south of Paris: what may be the world's most impressive three-dimensional map old already found, around 20.000 years old.
The discovery has been described as an accurate representation of the geographical features of a prehistoric valley, and could transform our understanding of ancient peoples' ability to interpret and represent the world around them.
According to experts Medard Thiry e Anthony Milnes, the cave Segognole 3 hides a detailed map of the territory where hunter-gatherers of the time probably lived.
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The Ségognole cave 3
A caverna Segognole 3 It is part of a sandstone complex in southern France, famous for its more than 2.000 Stone Age cave paintings.
However, what geoscientists discovered on the cave floor goes beyond the confines of traditional cave art: a miniature version of the surrounding valley, carved in stunning detail.
The discovery was made by geoscientists Medard Thiry, from the Centre des Geosciences in France, and Anthony Milnes, from the University of Adelaide, in Australia.
They identified a series of grooves and depressions on the cave floor, which form a complex system of channels and basins that accurately mimics the water flow pattern of the local territory.
The Ségognole 3 cave dates back to the late Paleolithic Superior, when the first human settlements began to be established.
During this period, hunter-gatherers already had impressive adaptation skills and knowledge of the environment.
Although few examples of cave art from the time have been found, the discovery in Ségognole 3 cave suggests that in addition to engravings of animals like both horses found, people of that time were also creating much more complex representations of the landscape around them.
Pascal Crapet, Fontainebleau/Courtesy of Médard Thiry for labrujulaverde.com )
The art of mapping the world
The map found in the cave is not a conventional geographical representation. Rather than a simple outline of the external landscape, the carved floor of the cave appears to be an inverted and modified version of the surrounding area, likely due to the natural slope of the terrain.
However, geoscientists claim that the characteristics of this “map” are easily recognizable, such as rivers, deltas, lakes and hills.
Thiry and Milnes detail how rainwater infiltrated the cave, creating a pattern that followed a river network.
The basins on the cave floor not only represent bodies of water, but were also manipulated by humans, who intelligently enlarged and deepened them.
One of the most impressive elements of the discovery is a large elevated basin, which, by all indications, was created to function as a “water tower“, feeding the rain that ran down the map’s channels.
The precision of the design
The precision with which the grooves and basins are carved into the cave suggests that those responsible for this work had an impressive capacity for abstraction and spatial reasoning.
Every detail seems to be part of an elaborate design, with rivers dividing, connecting and forming complex networks of deltas.
The “hills” and “mountains” found on the map are perfectly rounded and some are surrounded by deep grooves, which reinforces the idea that we are faced with a faithful representation of the characteristics of the local valley.
Furthermore, the absence of repetitive patterns suggests that the map is not just a representation of the landscape, but rather a model that expresses the spatial relationships between the different natural features of the area.
This indicates that the map could have been used in a variety of ways: as a guide for hunters, as a teaching tool about local geography, or even as part of water-related rituals.
Oxford Journal of Archeology , 2024)
A new perspective on ancient peoples
This discovery sheds new light on prehistoric people and their cognitive abilities. Scientists believe this map may be more than just an artistic representation.
It may be an example of how the ancient inhabitants of the region used geographical knowledge in a functional way.
The Ségognole 3 cave may have been a place of learning, rituals or even a meeting point for those who needed to understand the complex relationships between water, territory and natural resources.
While interpretations of prehistoric art are always subject to caution, Thiry and Milnes' study suggests that the terrain carving at Ségognole 3 cave is some of the most impressive evidence yet that early humans were able to map and understand their world in a complex and profound way.
Final Words
The discovery of the 3D map in the Ségognole 3 cave not only expands prehistoric peoples' understanding of the geography of their territory, but also challenges traditional notions about the intellectual capacity of these civilizations.
The complexity of the map, with its perfectly drawn basins, channels and furrows, reveals abstract thinking and a level of sophistication unimaginable for such a remote era.
Studying this and similar discoveries may in the future provide valuable insights into the mapping and territorial organization practices of early human groups.
The full research article was published in Oxford Journal of Archeology and promises to continue to fascinate experts and laymen alike about the incredible abilities of prehistoric people and their ways of interacting with the surrounding environment.
