The Riddle Of the Ancient Maps
Astronomical evidence, however, strong, is always circumstantial. Likewise, however much they collaborate, talk
of serpents and rising oceans are ultimately based on myths, legends, stories, anthropology, etc, all of which
are open to question. More important evidence would be the use of the same unit measurement in almost every site
that remains from before 5,000BC.
Beyond this, there does exist another proof that is difficult to debunk. It does not prove who the ancient civilisation
were, or where they came from, but it proves their existence to be the least fantastical explanation for an otherwise
unsolvable puzzle.
The adventure begins with a man named Professor Hapgood, in turn involves both Albert Einstein and Robert Bauval,
but I will ignore the process of discovery for now, and jump straight to relevant problem.
From the 15th century onwards, seafaring expeditions became increasingly important. Cultures in Europe were beginning
to build advanced ships, and global trade required the development of reliable shipping routes. If ships become
important, so do maps. This is because ships need maps; oceans are dangerous places, and every Captain needs to
know where he is going, both to prevent his vessel wrecking upon rocks and to ensure efficiency in delivering cargo.
Thus during the 16th century Europe witnessed the efforts of the world famous map makers, amongst them Mercator
(his name still on many a world atlas today), Oronteus Finaus, Piri Reis, and Bauche.
Their reputations gave them access to source maps handed down from across the generations, many via the Library
of Alexandria and beyond, the origins of which could not be known. The importance of compiling existing maps together
was obvious; expeditions were setting out every day, and even lands unconfirmed should be placed on maps, so that
sailors at least had a direction to set out in and find out if the place really existed.
The maps created varied from creator to creator. They all seem to have had common elements, as if choosing different
pieces from an existing jigsaw. This is indeed a valid metaphor, because they were simply compiling their maps
from different and ancient source maps.
Their maps create historians a number of problems:
1. Phillipe Bauche's map shows Antarctica as divided into two separate land masses, with very detailed shorelines.
His map seemed to be wrong at the time, because Antarctica, when finally visited, looked nothing like that. But
in 1958 a seismic survey of Antarctica was carried out. The discovery was made that Antarctica was indeed two archipelago
islands, and the subglacial topography matches Bauche's map to every detail. But this means that Bauche had a correct
map showing Antarctica *without* any ice on it. Antarctica has not been in this condition for at least the last
10,000 years, if ever.
2. Piri Reis' map shows the detail of Antarctica as the subglacial topography on the southern exactly is in actuality.
But once again, this condition could not have existed for the last 10,000 or so years.
3. Fineas' map seemed to be based on similar source maps, and again showed Antarctica, but this time. but this
time in an intermediate stage of ice and exposed subglacial topography, charting Queen Maud Land, Enderby Island,
Marie Byrd Island, etc.
4. South America is also shown in immense detail, but with puzzling exceptions. The Amazon river and islands are
plotted perfectly on the Reis map, but Marajo is left out. 15,000 years ago Marajo is thought to have still been
part of the mainland. Reis accidentally lets the Amazon appear twice, presumably due to mistakenly overlapping
his source maps. But the second time Majaro does appear, along with correct teutonic changes over time. Had someone
been mapping these waters over a period of a few thousand years from 13,000 BC onwards?
5. The most amazing evidence comes from Mercator. Every once in a while, he would produce a definitive world atlas,
as more shores became charted. This is a tradition that has continued until the present day; you can still buy
a Mercator atlas in the shops. His atlas of 1569 replaced his 1538 map, especially the detail of South America,
since this had recently been charted by contemporary sailors of his time. We now know that not only was his 1538
map far more accurate, but incredibly it also contained measurements of longitude.
Longitude is the distance in degrees east or west of the prime meridian. It is much harder to calculate than latitude,
which can be measure by deductions of direction using the stars or the sun for observation. Longitude however,
requires distance = speed x time, and needs a chronometer.
Discovering longitude became a preoccupation for sailors, and as late as 1760, no one had managed it. In England
a Board of Longitude was set up, to solve this "greatest of all naval problems". Called before them in
1714, Sir Isaac Newton explained to this board that "a watch required for such accuracy hath not yet been
invented". Over 20,000 pounds were offered as a prize to any man who might build such a device, and finally
in 1761, Harrison's prototype chronometer "ushered in a new era of sea travel".
Thus finally in the 19th century, maps began to be updated with correct longitudes. And yet, Mercator's map from
1539 shows perfect evidence of longitudes having been accurately calculated. How could his ancient source maps
- their use seen as geographical alchemy at best - have contained the use of technology not invented until centuries
after Mercator's death? Certainly he had no knowledge of it, for he erroneously updated his maps with what he thought
was more accurate information from 16th century exploration.
The maps are genuine, numerous and well documented, even before many of their secrets were unveiled by seismic
studies in the mid 20th century. So we must consider the very real possibility that an ancient race possessed technology
as advanced as the chronometer, and charted Antarctica and indeed the entire world over a lengthy period from somewhere
around 13,000BC onwards, accounting for the different stages of Antarctic - and South American - topographical
development displayed on the 16th century maps. The ancient civilisation's maps were passed down in bits and pieces,
presumably going through the hands of Sumerians, Egyptians, Indians, the library at Alexandria, the naval library
at Constantinople, etc.