There is no way to get around the fact that any map is partly judged by how it fits into the long history of mapmaking.   People really like maps because of this history and to pretend that it is not

  As previously discussed, as each map is more fully drawn, it takes on a life of its own.  The backgrounds give way to more detail.  The details require more research and careful consideration and this often leads to further areas

Once I’ve been able to settle on correct and accurate data, which often includes personally walking the sites to verify certain details, it’s time to actually begin drawing the backgrounds of the main elements.  This very tactile experience really begins

In my last posting, the basic form of the new maps was decided and I had gathered a fair amount of basic information that could be available.  The next big step is rectifying and justifying all the competing and contradictory

Getting Started, Where to Begin--Having stated in the “Cartographic Thoughts and Ideas” section about taking you along with me on the journey of making a map, this is step one of the “getting going” phase.  Decide what area to work