Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery that could revolutionize our understanding of early human knowledge and mapping techniques. The discovery, published in the Oxford Journal of Archaeology, reveals what may be the world’s oldest known three-dimensional map, concealed within a quartzitic sandstone megaclast in the Paris Basin. This discovery not only challenges our perception of prehistoric peoples but also sheds light on their advanced cognitive abilities and deep understanding of the natural world.
The site of the discovery is the Ségognole 3 rock shelter, which has been known since the 1980s for its fascinating artistic engravings. These engravings depict two horses in a Late Paleolithic style, flanking a female pubic figure. However, the recent research unveils a more complex aspect of the site: a miniature representation of the surrounding landscape, offering an entirely new interpretation of Paleolithic human activity.
Dr. Anthony Milnes, a researcher from the University of Adelaide’s School of Physics, Chemistry, and Earth Sciences, played a significant role in the research, which was led by Dr. Médard Thiry of the Mines Paris—PSL Center of Geosciences. The two scientists have worked together to unravel the significance of this discovery and its implications for understanding human cognitive development during the Paleolithic period.
The Ségognole 3 site has long been a point of intrigue for archaeologists, especially following Dr. Thiry’s first visit to the location in 2017. His initial observations pointed to the possibility that the sandstone had been deliberately worked by Paleolithic peoples to mirror the female form, with fractures created to allow water to infiltrate the stone. This manipulation of the stone was not just an artistic expression but part of a broader effort to harness the natural environment.
In their latest findings, Milnes and Thiry have expanded on Dr. Thiry’s earlier work, revealing that the floor of the sandstone shelter, modified around 13,000 years ago, was not merely shaped for symbolic or artistic reasons. It appears that the Paleolithic people who inhabited the shelter also crafted a three-dimensional miniature model of the landscape around them, reflecting the region’s natural water flows and geomorphological features.
Dr. Milnes emphasizes that this is not a map in the modern sense of the word—complete with precise measurements of distance, direction, or travel time. Instead, it is a miniature representation of the landscape that showcases the flow of water, from highlands into streams and rivers, the convergence of valleys, and the formation of lakes and swamps downstream. This form of mapping seems to have been focused more on the direction and behavior of water in the environment, which would have been of critical importance to Paleolithic people, who depended on water sources for survival.
“What we’ve described is not a map as we understand it today—with distances, directions, and travel times—but rather a three-dimensional miniature depicting the functioning of a landscape, with runoff from highlands into streams and rivers, the convergence of valleys, and the downstream formation of lakes and swamps,” Dr. Milnes explains.
For the people of the Paleolithic era, the ability to recognize and understand natural features like water flows would have been vital for survival. Unlike modern map-making, which focuses on navigating through a given space, these early maps may have been created to convey a deeper, more intuitive understanding of the landscape, emphasizing water sources and the connections between different geographical features.
Dr. Thiry’s research suggests that these modifications to the sandstone may have been part of a broader cultural or ritualistic framework. The changes made to the shelter’s surface likely represent an early form of human environmental engineering, specifically tailored to manage and direct the flow of rainwater within the rock shelter’s surroundings. This discovery, according to Dr. Thiry, reveals a level of sophistication that has never before been recognized in Paleolithic humans.
“Our research showed that Paleolithic humans sculpted the sandstone to promote specific flow paths for infiltrating and directing rainwater, which is something that had never been recognized by archaeologists,” Dr. Thiry states. “The fittings probably have a much deeper, mythical meaning, related to water. The two hydraulic installations—that of the sexual figuration and that of the miniature landscape—are two to three meters from each other and are sure to relay a profound meaning of conception of life and nature, which will never be accessible to us.”
The symbolic connection between water and life is a recurring theme in many early cultures, and it seems that the Paleolithic people of the Ségognole 3 shelter also incorporated this association into their modifications of the landscape. By sculpting the sandstone to channel water, these early humans may have been seeking to control or influence the natural environment in ways that were connected to fertility, life, and the cycle of nature.
The discovery of a three-dimensional landscape map is particularly significant because it pushes back the timeline for human cognitive and engineering capabilities. Before this find, the oldest known three-dimensional map was a large portable rock slab, engraved by Bronze Age people approximately 3,000 years ago. This earlier map depicted a local river network and earth mounds, which was more in line with the modern understanding of mapping as a tool for navigation. The Ségognole 3 shelter, however, shows that prehistoric humans were capable of modeling landscapes long before the advent of written language or advanced technology.
Dr. Milnes and Dr. Thiry’s collaboration exemplifies the value of interdisciplinary research in archaeology. Their work draws on expertise in multiple fields, including archaeology, geology, and geomorphology, to uncover insights that would not have been possible within a single discipline. The importance of collaborating across different scientific domains has become more apparent in recent years, as breakthroughs often emerge at the intersections of disciplines.
“We believe the most productive research outcomes are found at the boundaries between disciplines,” Dr. Milnes states. “Re-evaluating field studies and conducting frequent site visits are important. It’s clear from our ongoing project that insights and interpretations do not appear immediately but emerge through new observations and interdisciplinary discussions.”
This recent study opens up new possibilities for understanding early human interactions with the environment. It suggests that Paleolithic people were not only skilled at survival but also capable of sophisticated environmental engineering and spatial thinking. While we may never fully comprehend the symbolic or spiritual significance behind these ancient practices, the discovery of the three-dimensional map offers a glimpse into the complex worldview of early humans.
As a result of this research, we now know that the people who lived in the Ségognole 3 shelter had a much deeper understanding of their landscape than we had previously imagined. They were not merely surviving within their environment; they were actively shaping it, using their knowledge of natural forces to influence the flow of water and the distribution of resources. This discovery reveals a new layer of complexity in Paleolithic societies and underscores the incredible mental capacity, imagination, and ingenuity of our distant ancestors.
The significance of this discovery extends beyond the specific findings at Ségognole 3. It challenges conventional views of early human culture and cognition, encouraging researchers to reconsider the cognitive abilities of prehistoric peoples. The implications of this research suggest that our ancestors were not only capable of remarkable feats of engineering and environmental manipulation but also had a profound understanding of the landscape around them—an understanding that was likely crucial for their survival and success.
More information: Médard Thiry et al, Palaeolithic map engraved for staging water flows in a Paris Basin shelter, Oxford Journal of Archaeology (2024). DOI: 10.1111/ojoa.12316