Piri Reis Map
The Piri Reis map was discovered in 1929. It consists of a map drawn on gazelle skin, detailing the western coast of Africa, the eastern coast of South America, and the northern coast of Antarctica. The detail of the map, particularly of the Antarctica coastline, is incredibly accurate. The map is claimed to have been drawn in 1513 by Piri Reis, a famous admiral of the Turkish fleet. Controversial questions remain regarding this map: - How did Piri Reis draw such an accurate map of the Antarctic region 300 years before it was discovered?
- The map shows the southern coastline under the ice. Geological evidence shows that the latest date Queen Maud Land could have been charted in an ice-free state is 4000 BC. How could Piri Reis have known this, and why did he put it on the map?
In 1960, Charles H Hapgood of Keene College asked the United States Air Force was asked to look at the map in 1960, and evaluate it against their known maps of the area. They replied: - Dear Professor Hapgood,
- Your request of evaluation of certain unusual features of the Piri Reis map of 1513 by this organization has been reviewed.
- The claim that the lower part of the map portrays the Princess Martha Coast of Queen Maud Land, Antarctic, and the Palmer Peninsular, is reasonable. We find that this is the most logical and in all probability the correct interpretation of the map.
- The geographical detail shown in the lower part of the map agrees very remarkably with the results of the seismic profile made across the top of the ice-cap by the Swedish-British Antarctic Expedition of 1949.
- This indicates the coastline had been mapped before it was covered by the ice-cap. The ice-cap in this region is now about a mile thick.
- We have no idea how the data on this map can be reconciled with the supposed state of geographical knowledge in 1513.
- Harold Z. Ohlmeyer Lt. Colonel, USAF Commander
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