Researchers decode 200-year-old Red Sea navigational chart, revealing lost seafaring secrets

Researchers from the University of Exeter have decoded a 200-year-old Kachchhi/Gujarati navigational chart, revealing an indigenous system of seafaring in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. This chart, part of the Royal Geographical Society's collection since 1835, depicts over 180 islands, reefs, and landmarks, with 66 locations previously unidentified. The study established coordinates for all 66 locations and improved transcriptions of the Devanagari script. Professor John Cooper, who led the research, stated, "Although this chart doesn't look accurate to our way of thinking, it allowed seafarers with the necessary experience and knowledge of stellar navigation to negotiate some of the harshest and most challenging waters in the world." The chart's 29 rhumb lines served multiple navigational purposes, and its stellar information, place names, and topographical details provided a comprehensive reference for experienced sailors. Dr. Katherine Parker of the Royal Geographical Society emphasized the value of revisiting historical artifacts with contemporary tools.