The Oronce Finé Map (1531) - "smoking gun" evidence for an ancient civilization?

[axj]

There is an excellent analysis of the features of this map as compared to Antarctica's shape under the ice:
_http://www.atlantismaps.com/chapter_2.html

First, here is the Oronce Fine map itself (from 1531):

And here is a comparison of the features of Antarctica (the actual map is on the left and the Oronce Fine Antarctica is on the right):

Description: Modern map of Antarctica with the Palmer Peninsula faded out (top-left) alongside Oronce Finé’s map of the continent (top-right) displayed as they would both appear on a standard polar projection. Both versions consist of a large, elongated eastern landmass that is roughly 1½ times taller than it is wide. This part of Antarctica is called Greater or Eastern Antarctica. Protruding almost perpendicularly off of the upper western side of this mass is a much smaller and uniquely squarish landmass called Lesser or Western Antarctica.

A schematic template based on the shape of Antarctica (bottom-left) overlaid onto Finé’s Antarctica (bottom-right) demonstrates the uncanny accuracy of Finé’s design. The template is aligned to the shape of Western Antarctica and to Ross Island (E). Note how Atka Bay (A) is accurately rendered and aligned while finding itself placed just short of its actual location. Meanwhile the precise placement and alignment of Western Antarctica along the upper half of Eastern Antarctica allow for a very accurate rendering of the Weddell Sea’s wide-angled coastline (B). We find Finé’s rendering of Western Antarctica’s flat westernmost coast (C) running parallel to Eastern Antarctica. We also see a similarly angled chamfer extending off its southernmost point notched by Sulzberger Bay (D). Eastern and Western Antarctica converge forming a deep bay with a lone island sitting near its mouth (E). And finally, Ross Island is accurately portrayed just below a lone point along the coast of Victoria Land (F).

Even the mountain ranges are quite accurate:

Description: A bathymetric view of Western Antarctica. While the inclusion of nonexistent mountain ranges along the southern and eastern coasts of Eastern Antarctica expose the cartographer’s lack of full familiarity with Eastern Antarctica, the inclusion and accurate placement of A) the Ellsworth Mountains, B) the Executive Committee Range, and C) the northern tip of the Queen Maud Mountains in the area of Western Antarctica suggest that the civilization that charted the continent most often frequented the western half of the continent. Meanwhile, Finé’s incorporation of a lengthy narrow bay extending southward off the Weddell Sea mimics a basin (D) existing between two converging mountain ranges that form a similar point at its southern extremity.

Here is some more information about this map:

Finé's world map, done on a "cordiform" or heart-shaped projection, was drawn in 1531 and published for the first time in Grynaeus' Novus Orbis. Quite apart from its scientific interest, this map is a thing of great beauty. It influenced - both in projection and design—many later maps, including the famous world map of Mercator himself (see page 29).

The most striking feature of the Finé map, and the one that particularly struck Charles Hapgood, is its representation of Antarctica. The continent of Antarctica, as is well known, was not discovered until 1820, by seal hunters and neither its true extent nor its major geographical features, including the Transantarctic Mountains, were fully known until as recently as 1957-1958, when the continent as a whole was scrutinized by scientists on the occasion of the International Geophysical Year.

Yet here is a map, published 426 years before the IGY and 289 years before the discovery of the continent, which fully outlines Antarctica - and even seems to show such features as the Ross Sea, which is normally hidden by great sheets of ice.
_http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198001/piri.reis.and.the.hapgood.hypotheses.htm

 

[MusicMan]

It's interesting that Antarctica is described on the map as "Terra Australis", a name which transcribed itself to Australia, when that was 'discovered' later on.

 

[axj]

Well, Terra Australis was the name of the suspected southern continent (australis = southern). Since Australia was discovered before Antarctica, it got the name. ;)

There is something else that i just noticed: If the Atlanteans indeed melted the ice of Antarctica, then the continent would move up significantly over time. Scandinavia is still slowly rising since the ice shield there towed over 12.000 years ago.

While it is unclear how fast this rising of the continent would happen in Antarctica, I'm wondering if this meddling with plate tectonics may have contributed towards a destabilization of the crust and the destruction of Atlantis.

 

[axj]

There is obviously one big argument against what the C's said about Atlanteans tawing the ice shield in Antarctica. That is, the drilled ice cores from Antarctica (and Greenland) are supposed to go all the way back to 600.000 - 800.000 years ago, while the tawing of Antarctica would have happened much more recently, maybe 20.000 - 100.000 years ago.

So the Antarctic ice shield should contain only about 10.000 or 20.000 years worth of climate history while the scientific consensus is that it goes back almost a million years.

 

[MusicMan]

It's not as if a few ice cores could represent a continent the size of Antarctica.
You could have partial thawing and refreezing happening, or even as in the case of the Arctic, an annual thaw and refreeze, with varying results each year.
This could explain why the coast of Antarctica appears in the map if it was in the Summer season, which would be the only season anyone would want to visit, as it would be in total darkness in the winter.
Still, it's a curiosity.

 

[Laura]

There is obviously one big argument against what the C's said about Atlanteans tawing the ice shield in Antarctica. That is, the drilled ice cores from Antarctica (and Greenland) are supposed to go all the way back to 600.000 - 800.000 years ago, while the tawing of Antarctica would have happened much more recently, maybe 20.000 - 100.000 years ago.

So the Antarctic ice shield should contain only about 10.000 or 20.000 years worth of climate history while the scientific consensus is that it goes back almost a million years.

Where did the Cs say the Atlanteans thawed the Antarctic ice shield?

 

[axj]

There is obviously one big argument against what the C's said about Atlanteans tawing the ice shield in Antarctica. That is, the drilled ice cores from Antarctica (and Greenland) are supposed to go all the way back to 600.000 - 800.000 years ago, while the tawing of Antarctica would have happened much more recently, maybe 20.000 - 100.000 years ago.

So the Antarctic ice shield should contain only about 10.000 or 20.000 years worth of climate history while the scientific consensus is that it goes back almost a million years.

Where did the Cs say the Atlanteans thawed the Antarctic ice shield?

Session 98-12-05:

Q: (L) In that sense... (A) Okay, this brings us to the question about the Piri Reis map. We wanted to know the origin of this map?
A: Complex, but the origin would date back to 14,000 B.C.
Q: (A) Atlantis?
A: Close.
Q: (L) Was this map drawn when Antarctica was NOT covered by ice?
A: Yes.
Q: (L) Was Antarctica not covered by ice because the poles were in a different location?
A: No.
Q: (L) Was it not covered by ice because the entire planet was not covered by ice?
A: No.
Q: (L) Was it not covered by ice because it was in a different location itself?
A: No.
Q: (L) Why was it not covered by ice? (A) Because the climate was warmer.
A: Technologically achieved.
Q: (L) Why would somebody want to technologically warm Antarctica if the whole rest of the planet was available for use? What is so special about Antarctica?
A: The whole rest of the planet was available for use? Not hardly.
Q: (L) Why was the rest of the planet not available for use?
A: Ice.
Q: (L) So, the rest of the planet WAS covered by ice?
A: No.
Q: (L) There is something I am missing here. (A) Much of the planet was covered by ice, but not all.
A: Yes.
Q: (L) So, instead of using the areas that were NOT covered by ice, why, in particular, was Antarctica...
A: What?!?
Q: (L) What I am getting at is: why go to all the trouble to thaw out a whole big island if it might have been easier to have been somewhere else?
A: Well, first of all, we thought this was Ark's turn. But, since you have asked, is it not obvious by now? Magnetic power grid physics, EM utilization. Crystals and the like. Seeking paths to the interior? The "Poles" know best!

 

[Yozilla]

Interesting this discussion of Antarctica without ice, achieved by means of technology, btw Laura and some other forum member i think i remember already happened some time ago. Feels like some kind of deja vu... Curious thing if i remember correctly...

 

[Palinurus]

Yozilla, you were right. I remembered something similar as well and made a search.

Turns out to have been discussed in this topic (September 5, 2012): Man Made Ancient Pyramids Found on Antarctica

 

[Yozilla]

Thx Palinurus!

I'am kinda relieved since i also wondered if i've dreamt this... Almost like stopwatch reset...

 

[Inquorate]

Very interesting. That map really captures the imagination.