Researchers have found what could be the oldest three-dimensional map in the world, situated in a quartzitic sandstone megaclast in the Paris Basin.
Researchers have found what could be the oldest three-dimensional map in the world, situated in a quartzitic sandstone megaclast in the Paris Basin.
The Ségognole 3 rock shelter, recognized since the 1980s for its artistic engravings of two horses in a Late Palaeolithic style alongside a female figure, has now shown evidence of a miniature depiction of the nearby landscape.
Dr. Anthony Milnes from the University of Adelaide’s School of Physics, Chemistry and Earth Sciences took part in the study led by Dr. Médard Thiry from the Mines Paris – PSL Centre of Geosciences.
Dr. Thiry’s previous work after his initial trip to the site in 2017 indicated that Palaeolithic people had shaped the sandstone to resemble the female form and created fractures that allowed water to seep into the sandstone, which fed a spring at the base of the pelvic area.
The latest findings indicate that the floor of the sandstone shelter, modified by Palaeolithic inhabitants approximately 13,000 years ago, was designed to mimic the natural flow of water and the landforms of the region.
“What we have identified isn’t a map in the conventional sense — one that provides distances, directions, and travel times. Instead, it’s a three-dimensional miniature that illustrates the dynamics of the landscape, showing how water flows from highlands into streams and rivers, where valleys merge, and how lakes and swamps form downstream,” explains Dr. Milnes.
“For Palaeolithic communities, understanding water flow and recognizing landscape features were probably more critical than our modern frameworks of distance and time.
“Our research indicates that the modifications made by humans to the water movement in and around the shelter included modeling the natural water flows in the surrounding landscape. These findings are remarkable and demonstrate the cognitive abilities, creativity, and engineering skills of our ancient ancestors.”
Due to his extensive research on the origins of Fontainebleau sandstone, Dr. Thiry identified several detailed morphological elements that could not have formed by natural processes, indicating they were altered by early humans.
“Our findings revealed that Palaeolithic humans shaped the sandstone to create specific pathways for rainwater to flow, a concept that had previously gone unnoticed by archaeologists,” Thiry remarks.
“These features likely carry a deeper, symbolic significance connected to water. The two hydraulic adaptations — one tied to the sexual figure and the other to the miniature landscape — are merely two to three meters apart and likely convey a profound understanding of life and nature that remains elusive to us today.”
The recent study by Milnes and Thiry, published in Oxford Journal of Archaeology, uncovered evidence of three-dimensional modeling through a detailed examination of subtle geomorphological attributes.
“This entirely new finding enhances our understanding of the capabilities of these early humans,” Thiry adds.
Prior to this discovery, the oldest known three-dimensional map was believed to be a large portable stone slab created by Bronze Age people around 3000 years ago, which illustrated a local river network and earth mounds, resembling a more conventional map used for navigation.
Dr. Milnes emphasizes that interdisciplinary collaboration — integrating fields like archaeology, geology, and geomorphology — is essential in scientific exploration.
“We find that the most fruitful research results often emerge at the intersections of different disciplines,” Dr. Milnes states.
“Reassessing field studies and regularly visiting sites is crucial. Our ongoing project clearly demonstrates that valuable insights and interpretations develop gradually through fresh observations and interdisciplinary exchanges,” Dr. Thiry suggests.
