13,000-Year-Old 3D Map Discovered in French Rock Shelter

Archaeologists identify a Paleolithic sandstone engraving as the world's oldest known 3D map, depicting both landscape features and symbolic female forms.

• The 3D map was discovered in the Ségognole 3 rock shelter in the Paris Basin, France, and dates back approximately 13,000 years to the Paleolithic era.
• The map, carved into a sandstone floor, represents the surrounding landscape's natural water flows, valleys, and geological features in miniature form.
• Researchers believe the map prioritized water flow and landscape recognition over modern mapping concepts like distance and direction.
• The sandstone also features symbolic engravings of the female form, with water flow design elements potentially tied to mythical or symbolic meanings of life and nature.
• This discovery highlights the advanced mental, creative, and engineering capabilities of Paleolithic humans and offers new insights into their understanding of their environment.

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