Imagine a continent covered in ice, an inhospitable and remote place. Now imagine that evidence of an ancient civilization is hidden beneath that ice. This is the theory some have proposed for Antarctica, but what do scientists think? We see how modern science is redefining these mysteries, transforming ancient legends into new, less imaginative, but no less compelling narratives.
The Piri Reis map
A focal point in the Antarctic debate is the infamous 1513 map by Piri Reis, Ottoman admiral and cartographer ante litteram. This map, often cited as evidence of ancient knowledge of the continent, has stimulated imaginations and controversies.
What we know from research
Scientific analyzes suggest that the depiction of Antarctica on this map was probably hypothetical. Historians and cartographers agree that the idea of a southern continent was a common belief for centuries, but lacked empirical basis. More recent studies indicate that Antarctica, as we know it today, is completely covered in ice up to 15 million years ago. This contradicts the idea that it may have been “mapped” by ancient human civilizations. Scientists, using data from ice cores and other geological techniques, have shown that the continent's geological history rules out human presence before its recent exploration.
The Mystery of the Pyramids in Antarctica
In 2016, a pyramid-shaped mountain in Antarctica captured the world's attention. It's about the Pyramid Peak, a 2.500 meter mountain located in a massif complex, the Quartermain Mountains, in Victoria Land. Some attributed (in fact they still do) its shape to lost civilizations or even extraterrestrial interventions.
Scientific Reflections
Experts have provided a decidedly more earthly explanation. Erosion caused by the freeze-thaw cycle has been identified as the most likely cause of this mountain's pyramid shape. This natural process, influenced by the uniform type of rock, led to the formation of a structure that appears artificial to the human eye. Despite popular imagination, scientists have refuted these theories, arguing that the shape is a product of natural geological processes. Anomalies detected in satellite images of Antarctica have also been interpreted as the result of geological processes rather than the remains of artificial structures. In-depth studies, including those using ice-penetrating radar, have found no evidence of ancient human activity on the continent.
There are many pyramidal structures present in Antarctica along the Ellsworth mountain range, which extends for over 400 kilometers. It is not surprising to see rocky peaks emerging from the ice. However, all of these formations are clearly rocky in nature. The pyramid shape is not a complex feature in nature and there is no special coincidence in such a structure
Mitch D'Arcy, geologist at the German Research Center for Geosciences (Potsdam, Germany).
Ancient civilizations and related anecdotes
Other theories, based on historical evidence and anecdotes, suggest that ancient civilizations may have known and even inhabited Antarctica. Various narratives, with different versions, all not without a certain charm.
Critical Evaluation
Historical narratives, while fascinating, do not provide sufficient evidence to support the idea of an ancient civilization in Antarctica. The lack of archaeological finds, combined with scientific understanding of the continent's climate and geology, leads to the conclusion that these stories are more legend than fact. The reference to uncharted territories in European and Asian documents may have been a reference to regions such as Australia or Oceania, rather than Antarctica. Most scientists and historians consider these theories to be pure conjecture, not supported by concrete evidence.
Antarctica, in summary: between science and myth
Antarctica remains a continent of extreme importance both for science and for the collective imagination. Although theories of an ancient civilization have been largely disproved by scientific research, their existence reminds us of the importance of continuing to explore and understand this remote corner of our planet. Future research may not reveal lost cities or pyramids, but it will undoubtedly continue to illuminate the mysteries of this fascinating continent: and if you need a thrill, you can always think about the fact that for some, Antarctica is the edge of the earth flat.
