Ancient map on list

The National Library of China has included the map of Fangmatan, an archaeological site in Gansu province that dates back to the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC – AD 24), on the list of ancient and precious books.

The map is at least several hundred years older than other paper maps, according to Liu Bo, researcher with the National Library of China.

The NLC has launched the list in an effort to better preserve and research the nation’s historic manuscripts. It will launch a digital collection of a 1,000 of the items in 2013.