Archaeologists stunned by 4000-year-old stone that gives a map of historical sites

Ancient discoveries captivate history enthusiasts worldwide, offering a window into the stark contrasts between past and present. Yet, some finds hold even deeper significance. A 4,000-year-old stone, once a mere relic, has transformed into a treasure map. According to IFL Science, researchers have expressed delight in the finding of the stone and have made quite a few interesting references.

Going back to the Bronze Age, researchers and archaeologists made a captivating find of the partly broken Saint-Bélec slab back in 1900 at a prehistoric site in Finistère, France. However, it disappeared for over a century and was again rediscovered in 2014. Sci News reports that the broken slab was re-used in the burial of the Saint-Bélec towards the end of the early Bronze Age. It measures 3.86 meters long and 2.1 meters wide and dates from between 2150 and 1600 BCE. Until the 1990s, people stored the slab in a niche in the castle moat. In 2014, the slab was found again in a cellar of the castle.

However, after finding it again, researchers were engrossed in figuring out the hidden meaning and significance it held. According to Arkeonews, researchers are using it after 4,000 years of dormancy to uncover ancient sites in northwestern France. The stone is said to have etchings believed to represent the Odet River.

What makes the story even more captivating is that the markings bear an 80 percent similarity to an area around a 29-kilometer stretch of the Odet. Due to this crazy representation, the Saint-Bélec slab was recognized as Europe’s oldest 3D map. Archaeologists then decided to further study the stone carefully and point out other landmarks of the Bronze Age. While many may argue about the modern equipment and technology meant to ease the discovery process, researchers are hell-bent on using the Saint-Bélec slab to decipher where their next historic finding lies.

Arkeonews shared the opinion of researchers on the matter. “Using the map to try to find archaeological sites is a great approach. We never work like that,” said Yvan Pailler, one of the researchers and a professor at the University of Western Brittany, who is equally in awe of the 4000-year-old rock.

"It's a treasure map," he added. The article mentioned that it was only a matter of time before the researchers were able to understand and try to decode the symbols and etchings on the stone. "There were a few engraved symbols that made sense right away," Pailler said. In the coarse bumps and lines, the team could see the rivers and mountains of Roudouallec, which is part of the Brittany region–about 500 kilometers from Paris.

With its various deposits, markings, and textures, the Saint-Bélec slab is an invaluable find that could lead to countless other discoveries. Researchers believe they've hit the jackpot with this one. The stone, resembling a 3D map, offers a wealth of potential findings for archaeologists. Pailler and his team have returned to the original discovery site, aiming to better contextualize the slab and determine its exact age. “We are trying to better contextualize the discovery, to have a way to date the slab,” Pailler added.

Editor's note: This article was originally published on October 19, 2023. It has since been updated.