Archaeologists in Western Europe recently unveiled, what they believe is a 14,000 year old pre-historic hunting map. Etched on a stone, the map was discovered inside a cave in Navarre, Spain in 1994.

However, it took scientists about 15 years to decipher all the complicated lines that adorn the 7 X 5 inch rock. Believed to be the work of Magdalenian hunters, the rock depicts a mountain peak near the cave it was found in, as well as, neighboring rivers and ponds. There are also sketches of animals like reindeers, ibex and stags.

Scientists are not quite sure why the cavemen drew the map - speculation ranges from it being a guiding tool for the area - to either a storytelling device about a past event, or a plan for a future one.

Irrespective of the reason, archaeologists are very excited with the discovery, as it is the first one of its kind to be found in Western Europe, and provides further clues on the evolution of humans and their capability to plan ahead.

While this is the oldest map found in Western Europe, it is very 'new' compared to the oldest one found in the world. Created in 600 B.C. in the city of Sippar near Southern Iraq, the world's oldest map is also etched on a rock and depicts the ancient city of Babylon. It shows the world as a circle that is surrounded by 'bitter' (salty) water.

Sources: newscientist.com, telegraph.co.uk, dailymail.co.uk