Oct 26, 20234 min read

Mysterious 4000-Year-Old Stone Is A Secret Archaeological Treasure Map

Ancient rock, adorned with obscure markings reveals Bronze Age secrets

General view of the engraved slab after restoration in 1901 by Paul du Chatellier. Departmental archives of Finistère, Quimper, 1901. (Image source: Public Domain).

An enigmatic rock fragment, adorned with mysterious markings, that has remained largely unexplored for 4,000 years has now been praised as a valuable “treasure map” guiding archaeologists in their quest to uncover ancient Bronze Age sites throughout northwestern France.

Dubbed the “Saint-Bélec slab”, this artifact was unearthed in the vicinity of a burial site, and in 2021, researchers proclaimed it to be Europe’s oldest documented map — possibly the oldest in the world.

Since then, they have been diligently deciphering its engravings to resurrect hidden and forgotten monuments from the past.

Discovery Of The Slab In 1900 In the year 1900 Paul du Châtellier, a French archaeologist, stumbled upon the Saint-Bélec slab while conducting a survey in the village of Plonévez-du-Faou in Brittany, France. The slab, also known as the Saint-Bélec slab, was unlike anything he had ever seen.

The engraved stone of Penhoat in Saint-Coulitz (drawing by Paul du Chatellier, published in “Exploration of the tumulus of the Montagnes Noires (Finistère)”, journal “Archaeological Bulletin of the Committee of Historical and Scientific Works”, 1901. (Image source: Public Domain).

Made from a large piece of schist (a metamorphic rock common in the region) the Saint-Bélec slab was adorned with intricate carvings that immediately piqued du Châtellier’s interest. These enigmatic markings covered the surface of the stone, forming an intricate web of lines and shapes. The patterns were unlike any found in the surrounding area, making it clear that this was no ordinary rock.

What made the discovery even more fascinating was the realization that the Saint-Bélec slab was not a random find; it was part of a vast collection of ancient megaliths that dotted the landscape of Plonévez-du-Faou. These megaliths, ranging from standing stones to burial mounds, were remnants of an ancient civilization that had occupied the area during the Bronze Age, around 1900–1650 BCE.

Rendition of archeologists working. (Photo made with Freepik. Courtesy of: Peter Deleuran).

The slab itself, partly broken, measured 2.2 meters in length and 1.53 meters in width, and it weighed a staggering 1.5 tons. The carvings etched into its surface depicted various symbols, including concentric circles, chevrons, and cup marks. These patterns were intriguingly abstract and left archaeologists with a sense of bewilderment. What was the purpose of these carvings, and what message did they convey to the people of that era?

One hypothesis suggested that the carvings had some ritualistic or spiritual significance. Others believed that they could be a form of communication, similar to a proto-writing system, conveying messages to the inhabitants of that time. However, the mystery surrounding the Saint-Bélec slab would remain unsolved for over a century, as it eventually faded into obscurity.

The Rediscovery of the Saint-Bélec Slab in 2014 The story of the Saint-Bélec slab took an unexpected turn in 2014 when it was rediscovered in the most unlikely of places. Having spent over a century in Kernuz Castle in Pont-L’Abbé, Finistère, (which was the residence of du Chatellier and housed his private museum), it was found hidden in the cellar, reigniting the fascination and curiosity of the archaeological world.

The menhir-altar of Kerdavel in Plobannalec transported by Paul du Chatellier to the castle of Kernuz in Pont-l’Abbé at the beginning of the 20th century (postcard, circa 1910). (Image source: Public Domain).

It was nothing short of a historical surprise that breathed new life into the investigation of this Bronze Age enigma. With the help of a multidisciplinary team of experts, including archaeologists and geologists, a comprehensive study of the slab initiated. Advanced technologies, such as 3D scanning and laser imaging, were employed to create high-resolution replicas of the carvings.

The researchers discovered that the map exhibited an 80% similarity to the rivers and mountains in the Roudouallec region of Brittany. Published in the peer-reviewed journal Bulletin de la Société préhistorique française in 2021, these findings officially designated the map as Europe’s oldest known cartographic depiction of a specific territory. The presence of small indentations on the artifact has led the experts to speculate that these features might indicate the presence of burial mounds, housing structures, or geological formations.

“Using the map to try to find archaeological sites is a great approach. We never work like that…”

Yvan Pailler, professor at the University of Western Brittany (UBO).

The precision and attention to detail on the slab were remarkable. It displayed a level of geographical knowledge that was previously thought to be beyond the capabilities of the Bronze Age inhabitants of the region. The Saint-Bélec slab has provided valuable insights into the navigational skills, trade routes, and territorial understanding of this ancient society.

The engraved stone of Sanct-Bélec en Leuhan (drawing by Paul du Chatellier, published in “Exploration of the tumulus of the Montagnes Noires (Finistère)”, journal “Archaeological Bulletin of the Committee of Historical and Scientific Works”, 1901). (Image source: Public Domain).

“We still have to identify all the geometric symbols — the legend that goes with them”

Clement Nicolas, CNRS research institute

The archaeologists have devoted the past few weeks to excavating the location where the slab was initially discovered.

Similar megaliths in Finistère — Ploudalmézeau. Author Christian Duprez. (Image source: Wikimedia Commons). Creative Commons license: CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED.

During their most recent excavation, they have already unearthed several previously unknown fragments of the slab. These fragments seems to have been intentionally separated and repurposed as components of a tomb wall, a development that Nicolas proposes might symbolize shifting power dynamics within Bronze Age settlements.

Now the job is to piece everything together and find the key that unlocks the entire map.