Bedolina Map (Val Camonica)

The Bedolina Map — a large carved rock in Val Camonica sometimes called 'the world's oldest map' — depicts what appears to be a topographic representation of fields, paths, structures, and waterways, including labyrinthine patterns. Dated to the Iron Age (possibly 1000-500 BCE), the carving is one of the most debated petroglyphs in European archaeology: interpretations range from an actual cadastral map to a cosmological diagram to a ritual game board. At 320.54° Giza bearing, Bedolina sits within the Val Camonica UNESCO World Heritage Site — part of the 200,000+ petroglyph complex spanning 8,000 years. The rock's position overlooking the valley floor supports the map interpretation, as key features align with actual landscape elements visible from the carving's location.