This Bronze Age slab is a 'treasure map' to hunt ancient sites in France

By- Srushti Sharma

In an attempt to uncover any undiscovered historic places, scientists in northern France are deciphering strange inscriptions on a Bronze Age rock.

The rock, which has been unstudied for 4,000 years, is now being praised as a "treasure map".

The Saint-Bélec slab is a member of the Bronze Age geology. The slab was found in 1990 while regional archaeologists were conducting excavations at a Neolithic site in Finistère, France.

But it vanished for more than a century before being discovered in 2014.

As they investigated its provenance and the etchings, researchers in 2021 dubbed it the oldest map of Europe.

Their understanding of the slab's date will be aided by the discovery, which will serve as a spark for the discovery of long-lost monuments.

"It's a terrific idea to search for archaeological sites on the map. That is never how we work," the professor remarked.

Since the crew has only just started their adventure, they must examine the whole area and compare the slab's markings with one another.

The region shown on the old map is approximately 30 by 21 km. The treasure map project may require fifteen years to complete.