The RUTTER team at the Medea-Chart exhibition “What is a nautical chart, really?”

Medea-Chart: The Medieval and Early Modern Nautical Chart: Birth, Evolution, and Use (ERC-2016-STG/714033) is a research project on the History of Nautical Cartography, funded by the European Research Council. The project started in June 2017 and ended in May 2022 under the lead of the Principal Investigator Dr Joaquim Alves Gaspar at the Interuniversity Centre for the History of Science and Technology (CIUHCT), Faculty of Science of the Universidade de Lisboa.

Medea Chart addressed longstanding inquiries that have baffled cartographic historians for an extended period, employing innovative approaches such as cartometric analysis, numerical modelling, and multispectral analysis of manuscript charts. These questions revolve around the origin, technological progression, and usage of nautical charts in the Middle Ages and Early Modern era. More details about the project and its notable results can be found on their dedicated website. In particular, we strongly suggest having a look at the MEDEA-CHART Database, an online free-of-charge information system dedicated to old nautical charts.

On 15th December, the RUTTER team had the pleasure of attending a tour to the Medea-Chart final exhibition at the Instituto Hidrográfico da Marinha. The thought-provoking title “What is a nautical chart really?” concisely captures the essence of the exhibition hosted in one of the most beautiful spaces in Lisbon, the Convento das Trinas do Mocambo. This architectural conventual gem, echoing a sense of distant lands, transforms the exposition into an engaging interpretative journey. The exposition aims to address and successfully answer technical questions about the production of nautical charts, exploring their evolution with the emergence of oceanic astronomic navigation. Additionally, it provides intricate insights into the sophisticated art of chart-making, delving into the roles of a diverse community of practitioners —pilots, cartographers, and cosmographers— in resolving the inconsistencies found in medieval charts. This evolution is vividly brought to life through captivating representations that guide the visitors. The journey culminates in a practical demonstration of the MEDEA CHART database's functionality—an unparalleled repository of nautical charts worldwide.

We warmly thank Joaquim Gaspar, Šima Krtalić and Bruno Almeida for the explanations and hope that the exhibition will find another location in the next future! [Silvana Munzi & Luana Giurgevich]