A parchment map drawn in 1513 by Ottoman admiral Piri Reis was alleged to depict the coast of Queen Maud Land in Antarctica with extreme accuracy, before it was covered by ice, and to mark rivers and mountains matching modern subglacial radar topography. Since Antarctica has been ice-covered for at least 6,000 years, the map has been cited as evidence of a prehistoric cartographic civilization or ancient astronauts.
Account
A parchment map drawn in 1513 by Ottoman admiral Piri Reis was alleged to depict the coast of Queen Maud Land in Antarctica with extreme accuracy, before it was covered by ice, and to mark rivers and mountains matching modern subglacial radar topography. Since Antarctica has been ice-covered for at least 6,000 years, the map has been cited as evidence of a prehistoric cartographic civilization or ancient astronauts.
Debunked
Mainstream scholarship considers the claim a cartographic coincidence or over-interpretation. Piri Reis more likely mis-drew the eastern coast of South America. The alleged "match with subglacial topography" lacks rigorous cartographic demonstration.
Sources
- Piri Reis map (1513), Topkapi Palace collection
- ancient astronaut theory publications