The Map of Lost Settlements – Carpathian Highlands

Drawn in 1894 by surveyor Ivan Kolar, this topographical map captures the forgotten contours of 42 mountain villages erased by time and industry.
Originally printed on linen-backed paper, the map bears faded ink and field annotations marking lumber routes and vanished settlements. It was digitally reconstructed using high-resolution scanning and GIS layering, allowing modern researchers to compare historic geography with current landscapes.
This piece stands as both cartography and testimony — a map not only of land, but of loss. It reminds us that heritage is written not just in monuments, but in the empty spaces between them.