(ANSA) Rome, June 8 - Italian geographers said Tuesday they
believe they may have found the oldest extant map of the world
engraved on an ostrich egg, possibly by Leonardo da Vinci.
The map, evidently dating to the start of the 16th century,
contains the first representation of north America as two small
islands, according to research published on The Portolan
magazine presented in Rome by the Italian Geographic Society.
If the authenticity of the map is confirmed "it would
indicate that the circulation of geographical knowledge was very
precocious and widespread in Europe at the start of the 16th
century," said Claudio Cerreti, Reader in Geography at the
University of Roma Tre who was presenting the discovery together
with the Belgian author of the article, Stefaan Missinne.
"The contents of the map are extraordinary," said another
expert at the presentation, Leonardo Rombai, Reader in Geography
at Florence University.
"This little globe is extraordinary in its design, created
with great artistic care that goes beyond cartography".
The origins of the map remain a mystery, however. According
to Missinne it was created in 1504 and probably was the model
for the copper Lenox world map created in 1510 that until now
was believed to be the oldest existing world map depicting the
Americas.
Missinne speculates the map might have been engraved by
Leonardo or by one of his pupils.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA