Soleto Map

Soleto Map on display atTaranto's National Archaeological Museum

Localization of the sites shown on the Soleto Map

TheSoleto Mapis a possibly ancientmapdepictingSalentoand scratched onto a fragment of aterracottapot (anostrakon).While the ostrakon itself is undoubtedly ancient, serious doubts have been raised about the age of the map.

Background

The map was discovered inSoleto(southernItaly) byBelgianarchaeologist Thierry van Compernolle ofMontpellier Universityon August 21, 2003.Scratched into a pottery fragment that dates back to 500 BC, the map includes letters derived from aGreek script.The languages expressed on the map are bothGreekandMessapian.Moreover, the Soleto Map describes the city ofTaranto(called Taras), as well as other cities of Salento such as Soleto,Leuca,Ugento,andOtranto.The map went on public display in 2005 at the Archaeological National Museum of Taranto.

Controversy

There have been strong arguments that the map is a forgery.In the January/February 2006 issue of theDutchnewspaperGeschiedenis Magazine,DutcharchaeologistDouwe Yntema ofVrije UniversityinAmsterdamfound the authenticity of the map questionable.According to Yntema, the map looks like a school atlas with placenames engraved with north at the top. Moreover, the Soleto Map shows the towns as points rather than house symbols found on other ancient maps. Finally, the engravings follow the precise borders of the ostrakon itself, which suggests that the map was made after the pot was broken.