Explained in plain English

What's the oldest map?

The oldest known map is thought to be a wall painting from the ancient city of Çatalhöyük in modern-day Turkey, dating back around 9,000 years. This shows how humans have always needed to visualise their surroundings, much like how today's paper maps offer that wider perspective beyond a GPS screen.

Stories that explain this

Paper maps outsell GPS, even tripling demand in some cities

Questions this opens up

What is Çatalhöyük? Maps before paper? First world map?

Related explainers

How accurate are OS maps? How does active learning help? Benefits of 'old school' maps What is cognitive mapping? The digital divide in navigation How does GPS affect brains? Is GPS always accurate? Can GPS be jammed?

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