Researchers have mapped monster lairs, creating a folklore map of Northern Europe. Check out the fascinating findings! (Photo included)

Researchers have developed a map that merges folklore with modern cartographic technologies, highlighting locations associated with mythological and supernatural tales. This project focuses on regions of Northern Europe and aims to combine history, culture, and the art of cartography, writes Heritage Daily.

Scientists from the Polish Academy of Sciences created a map that covers Pomerania and Mecklenburg. Designed at a scale of 1:720,000, it fuses the aesthetics of Renaissance maps with contemporary Geographic Information Systems (GIS).

As part of the project, they managed to collect 1,200 folklore accounts from German and Polish sources, identifying 600 specific locations linked to myths about werewolves, devils, dragons, giants, and other creatures.

According to ethnologist Dr. Robert Petrowski, these stories often focus on local landmarks where, according to beliefs, strange events occurred, such as witch gatherings in the mountains or giants hurling boulders.

The researchers drew inspiration from the artistic heritage of Italian Renaissance maps, known for their depictions of mythical beings.

"In the past, these monsters often occupied blank spaces on maps, symbolizing unexplored or mysterious regions," explained Dr. Dariusz Brikala, a geographer specializing in historical cartography.

By applying this approach, the team aimed to convey the cultural and artistic atmosphere of earlier cartographic traditions. While earlier maps combined scientific accuracy with artistic creativity, modern cartography has shifted towards interactive and digital methods.

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