----------------------------Original message---------------------------- Greetings, A faculty memeber here at the University of Hawaii at Manoa by the name of Dr. Gunnar Thompson approached me recently while I was working in the Map Collection. He told me of a very interesting discovery. Since I am by no means an expert on early mapping of America, I suggested to Dr. Thompson that he spread the news of his discovery thru the internet for further discussion. Since he doesn't have email access, he has written a short summary for me to post on Maps-L and Maphist forums. Please excuse the cross-postings and any of my inadvertant typos. I will forward a paper copy of any comments and discussion attributed to his message to Dr. Thompson. If anyone would like to contact him directly, his address/phone/fax is included in his message which follows. Thank you very much. Ross Togashi University of Hawaii at Manoa Hamilton Library Map Collection -------------------------Dr. Gunnar Thompson's message-------------- Attention: Discovery of America's Oldest Map -- 1414 AD Researchers at University of Hawaii have identified a 1414 map that shows North America as a continent with bays and headlands northwest of Norway on a map by Albertin DeVirga. Headlands follow the Greenland, Helluland, Markland, Vinland sequence on maps by Sigurdur Stefansson (1590) and Bishop Resen (1600). This territory is labeled "Norveca Europa". Florida is shown as a peninsula at the apex of Norveca. DeVirga's map also has South America as a huge island-continent southeast of Asia. This island hasa a western coast almost identical to South America between Ecuador and Peru and it is identified as "Ca-paru" on the map. The accuracy of these New World continents is sufficient to verify pre-Columbian surveys by skilled astronomers. Asian, Arabian, Roman, and English sources are considered. Nicholas of Lynn is known to have surveyed "northern regions" from 1360 to 1380 AD. The map can be found in Marcel Destombes, Ed., Mappemondes AD 1200-1500; Imago Mundi Supplement IV: A Review of Early Cartography. Amsterdam : N. Israel, 1964. Copies of the map will be sent by mail for SASE to: Gunnar Thompson 221 Wist Annex - CE Univ. of Hawaii at Manoa Honolulu, HI 96822-2463 or by fax: (808) 956-3814 Technical drafts covering related maps and history are available at cost. Thanks again. Sincerely, Gunnar Thompson (signed) Gunnar Thompson, Ph.D. (808) 988-5581; 956-7904 -------------------------------end of message----------------------