Moving Mountains
Were you aware that a detailed world map existed as far back as the early 1500s? I didn't either. Additionally, the map shows a massive continent in the wrong place, according to our historians today. Once again, we have mainstream information that doesn't resonate with historical facts. I'm sensing a trend here, but you be the judge.
The Piri Reis Map has fascinated historians, cartographers, and alternative researchers since its rediscovery in 1929. Created in 1513 by the Ottoman admiral and navigator Piri Reis, this map is renowned for its astonishing accuracy in depicting parts of the world, including South America and what some believe to be Antarctica.
Notably, this was when much of the globe remained uncharted, leading many to speculate about its origins. Furthermore, as the scientific understanding of continental drift evolved, researchers have sought connections between ancient maps like Piri Reis' and the shifting of Earth's landmasses over time.
Finder's Keeper's
Interestingly, a group of historians discovered the Piri Reis Map in Istanbul's Topkapi Palace in 1929. At the time, they were conducting an inventory of the palace's archives as part of a modernization effort under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk.
During this process, they unexpectedly found the map, among other historical documents. The map was on a piece of gazelle skin and showcased remarkable detail that some believe was impossible for its time.
Believe it or Not
In addition, the map features the western coastlines of Europe and Africa, as well as the eastern coast of South America, with surprising accuracy. Consequently, this precision has led to theories that Piri Reis had access to much older source maps, possibly from lost civilizations or even extraterrestrial influences.
Meanwhile, some theories propose that specific knowledge—potentially related to ancient civilizations or advanced cartography—was intentionally obscured. Many believe this was due to religious or political reasons. Likewise, some researchers speculate that maps like Piri Reis' contained information that did not align with conventional historical narratives, leading to their suppression or disregard.
Map Quest
The Ottoman Empire reigned for approximately 623 years from 1299 to 1922 and was a dominant force in global politics, trade, and exploration. During its peak, the empire controlled vast territories spanning Europe, Asia, and Africa. Subsequently, its strategic location and access to maritime trade routes allowed Ottoman cartographers and scholars to gather and refine geographical knowledge from various civilizations.
Meanwhile, Piri Reis was part of this tradition, using Ottoman and foreign sources to create his detailed maps. However, as the empire declined, much of this knowledge was lost or neglected, contributing to the obscurity of historical documents like the Piri Reis Map.
As we now understand, Earth's continents have not remained stationary throughout history. Due to plate tectonics, landmasses drift across the planet's surface at a rate of several inches per year. During the time of Pangaea, around 335 million years ago, all continents were connected as one massive supercontinent. Most importantly, the tectonic forces caused Pangaea to break apart, eventually forming the continents we recognize today. South America and Africa, for example, were once joined but have since drifted apart due to the movement of the South Atlantic Ridge.
Markers from North to South
- Haiti and Dominican Republic (Hispaniola island)
- Puerto Rico
- Lesser Antilles
- Trinidad (and Tobago), off the coast of Venezuela
- Mouth of Corentyne between Guyana and Surinam
- Amazon Delta
- River Pará and the island of Marajó (far eastern mouth of the Amazon river system)
- The easternmost point of South America, near Natal
- Río de la Plata
- The mouth of Negro River
- Valdés Peninsula
- Modern Santa Cruz province in Argentina, south of Comodoro Rivadavia
- Islas Malvinas
- Cape Horn (close to Tierra del Fuego)
No new Ice
Meanwhile, one of the most controversial aspects of the Piri Reis Map is its depiction of what some claim to be an ice-free Antarctica. As a result, this assertion has fueled alternative theories suggesting that ancient civilizations may have mapped the continent before it was covered in ice, possibly over 10,000 years ago. Mainstream historians argue that what appears to be Antarctica is more likely an incorrect extrapolation of South America's southern coast. However, theories often suggest that an advanced, lost civilization—perhaps even Atlantis—knew the world far beyond what we traditionally accept.
While mainstream scholars maintain that Piri Reis likely compiled his map using older, well-documented sources, some alternative researchers suggest that remnants of a forgotten advanced civilization contributed to its creation. Again, the concept of ancient knowledge influencing cartography is not new.
Notably, Charles Hapgood, a professor of history, proposed the theory of Earth's Crust Displacement, which suggested that entire landmasses could have shifted dramatically due to sudden changes in the planet's crust. Although modern geology does not support Hapgood's theory, it remains a popular idea in more open-minded circles.
Shift 2.0
Similarly, I previously wrote about Chan Thomas, an aerospace engineer and author of The Adam and Eve Story. He expanded on catastrophic earth changes by proposing that the planet undergoes periodic pole shifts, leading to massive upheavals in civilization. As a result, his theories, partially censored by the CIA, suggest that sudden shifts in Earth's crust could have led to the destruction of ancient advanced societies.
Further, according to Thomas, these cataclysmic pole shifts occur approximately every 6,500 years, with the last major event believed to have occurred around 11,500 to 12,000 years ago. If this pattern holds, some theorists speculate that we are overdue for another shift, potentially within the next few centuries. However, mainstream scientists widely dismiss his theory, and Thomas's ideas continue to fuel speculation about hidden historical knowledge and lost civilizations.
Two in the Bush
I have one last thought on why the Piri Reis map has had little fanfare since its discovery in 1929. Consider that Admiral Richard E. Byrd conducted several significant expeditions to Antarctica between 1928 and 1956. His initial journey from 1928-1930 established Little America and marked the first flight over the South Pole. He returned in the 1930s for further exploration and research and later led the U.S. Antarctic Service Expedition in 1939-1940.
Above all, he commanded the large-scale Operation Highjump in 1946-1947 and contributed to Operation Deep Freeze I in 1955-1956, establishing permanent U.S. bases on the continent. These voyages led to the discovery of Germans or Nazis already using Antarctica as a base. You can read more about it in my blog, A Bird in the Hand.
Read it, and weep
Finally, The Antarctic Treaty, signed in 1959 and effective in 1961, provides the foundational governance for Antarctica, emphasizing its use for peaceful scientific research rather than military or territorial pursuits. While not a complete closure, the treaty established a framework for managing human activity on the continent. In layman's terms, fifty countries need to approve your visit. Further, you can only visit designated areas of the continent. In other words, 1% (colored area on the map below) of the land can be visited, while 99% is off-limits.
Imagine Bigger
Ultimately, the Piri Reis Map intrigues many to speculate on just how advanced our ancestors were. The map undeniably offers a peek into the remarkable navigational knowledge of the past. It exists whether derived from ancient civilizations, extraterrestrial influences, or simply skilled people. One thing is true: the map is a testament to the fact that we do not know the truth of our own history. However, we know that we are and have always been a creative and intelligent group of people.
