You’re riding through the Rattay woods, the sun is dappling through the leaves, and honestly, you’re probably thinking about Henry’s hunger levels or whether your armor is too dirty to talk to a noble. Most players don’t even realize they’ve missed one of the most valuable items in the early game. It's a scrap of parchment. Ancient Map 1 in Kingdom Come: Deliverance isn't just a collectible; it is a ticket to high-tier gear that makes the brutal early combat of 15th-century Bohemia actually survivable.
Warhorse Studios didn't make this easy. They didn't want to.
If you bought the DLC or the Royal Edition, these maps just sort of appear in your trunk. It’s easy to ignore them. You see "Ancient Map I" and think, "I'll get to that later." Then "later" becomes twenty hours into the game, and you're still getting bodied by peasants with polearms because your chest piece is made of boiled leather and hope.
Where is Ancient Map 1 Actually Hiding?
To actually use the map, you first have to grab it from your personal chest at the Mill in Rattay. It’s part of the Treasures of the Past DLC. If you don't have that, you aren't finding this specific stash. Simple as that. Once you have the parchment in your inventory, the real headache begins. The drawing is... well, it’s medieval. It’s a bit sketchy.
The map depicts a grave. Not a nice one. It’s located in the deep woods southeast of Rattay, specifically in the area near the Neuhof stud farm. You have to look for a very specific cluster of trees and a deer hunting spot.
Finding it is a nightmare if you rely on the compass.
The game doesn't give you a quest marker. It expects you to look at the landmarks. You're looking for a ruined stone cabin or a "burnt-out" hut. Nearby, there is a grave marked with a simple wooden cross. It’s tucked away in the thicket, and if you’re galloping on Pebbles, you will 100% miss it. You need a spade. No spade, no loot. Henry isn't digging with his bare hands, no matter how desperate he is for a decent helmet.
The Gear Inside: Why You Need This Early
Why bother? Because the loot in this specific grave is absurdly good for a low-level character.
Inside Ancient Map 1’s treasure location, you’ll find the Warhorse Helmet, Warhorse Brigandine, and usually some decent Groschen. The Warhorse gear is unique. It’s bright red and gambeson-heavy, but the stats are incredibly balanced for the weight. It’s the kind of armor that lets you take a mace to the ribs without immediately folding like a wet piece of parchment.
Most people don't realize that the "Ancient Maps" are essentially a "legit" way to power-level your gear. It feels like cheating, but it’s actually just rewarding exploration.
Kinda makes you wonder why a random peasant grave in the woods has high-end mercenary armor in it. Bohemia is a weird place.
Tracking the Rattay Woods: Navigation Tips for Ancient Map 1
Navigating the woods in Kingdom Come is notoriously difficult because the trees all look the same after ten minutes. To find the treasure for Ancient Map 1, start at the Neuhof stable. Head south into the forest. Keep your eyes peeled for the "POI" (Point of Interest) markers on your map, but don't rely on them entirely.
The grave is located at a spot where the forest gets dense. It's basically a test of your patience.
I’ve seen people spend an hour looking for this. The trick is to watch the topography. The grave sits on a slight elevation compared to the surrounding clearing. If you find a small stone structure that looks like it's been abandoned for a century, you're getting warm. Honestly, the most frustrating part isn't the map itself—it's the bushes. The collision physics in this game will turn a simple stroll into a frustrating mess of getting stuck on twigs.
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The Realistic Struggle of Medieval Mapping
The developers at Warhorse Studios wanted the maps to feel authentic. This means they are not top-down satellite views. They are perspective drawings. Ancient Map 1 shows a bird's eye view that is slightly tilted.
When you look at the map, notice the river placement. The river is your anchor. If the river is on your left on the map, and you're walking with the river on your right, you’re going the wrong way. It sounds obvious. You’d be surprised how many people get turned around.
The "Ancient" part of the name is a bit of a misnomer, too. These aren't Roman relics. They are just maps that have been passed around. They represent the "Treasures of the Past," which is really just code for "Here is some cool DLC gear we hid so you have to work for it."
Is the Warhorse Armor Worth the Weight?
Let's talk specs. The Warhorse armor set found through these maps—specifically the pieces from Map 1—has a distinct advantage: Low repair costs. In Kingdom Come, maintenance is a gold sink. If you buy a high-end Nuremberg Cuirass, a single dent will cost you a fortune at the armorer. The Warhorse gear is cheap to fix. You can use a standard repair kit and keep it in top shape without breaking the bank. This makes it the perfect "daily driver" armor for Henry while you're still figuring out how to parry properly.
It’s also surprisingly light. This matters because Henry’s stamina (his "shield" in combat) regenerates faster when he isn't carrying eighty pounds of steel.
Common Mistakes When Hunting This Treasure
People forget the shovel. I’m serious. You spend twenty minutes trekking into the dark woods, dodging bandits, finding the exact spot, and then you realize your spade is back at the Miller’s house.
Another mistake? Going at night.
The woods in Kingdom Come are pitch black. Even with a torch, you won't see the grave mound. The lighting engine is great, but it’s realistic to a fault. Go at midday. The shadows are shorter, and the wooden cross of the grave will actually catch the light.
Also, watch out for the "ambush" spots nearby. The area south of Neuhof is a favorite for Cuman raiders. If you're low-level and unarmored (which is why you're looking for the map in the first place), a group of three Cumans will end your treasure hunt real quick.
The Lore of the "Ancient" Treasures
There’s a bit of community debate about who left these maps. Some think they were left by a traveling merchant who died during the initial Sigismund invasion. Others think they are just a gameplay mechanic with no deeper meaning.
Regardless of the "why," the "where" is what matters. These stashes are scattered across the entire map, but Map 1 is the most essential because of its proximity to the starting zone. You don't have to ride to the edges of the world. It’s right there in Rattay’s backyard.
Technical Details: Patch Changes and Map Accuracy
Since the game's release and the subsequent "Royal Edition" updates, some players have reported that the map locations feel slightly shifted. This is usually just a misunderstanding of the landmarks. The grave for Ancient Map 1 hasn't moved.
What has changed is the level of "Hardcore Mode" difficulty. If you are playing on Hardcore, you don't have a player icon on the map. This makes finding the Map 1 treasure about ten times harder. You have to navigate by the sun and the stars.
- Start at Neuhof: Use the stables as your north point.
- Follow the Path: There’s a faint deer track heading south.
- Look for the Stone: The ruined hut is the key landmark.
- Equip the Spade: Keep it in your horse’s inventory so you never forget it.
If you’re struggling with the visual cues, try adjusting your brightness settings or using the "Nighthawk" potion. It turns the world a weird shade of blue-green, but it makes the contrast of the grave mound pop out against the grass.
Why Ancient Map 1 is the Best of the Five
There are five maps in total.
Map 2 takes you to a mine near Sasau.
Map 3 is near a bridge.
Map 4 is in a complicated forest layout.
Map 5 is... well, it’s a hike.
Map 1 is the most "bang for your buck." You get the chest piece and the helmet. These are the two most critical armor slots. If you only find one treasure in the whole game, make it this one. It changes the experience of the early "Viper's Nest" mission from a suicide mission into a manageable fight.
Practical Steps for Your Next Session
Don't just run out there blindly. Preparation is everything in Kingdom Come.
First, check your inventory. Make sure the DLC is actually active and the map is in your "Quest Items" or "Books" tab. Read it. Henry actually gains a tiny bit of reading XP if you’ve learned the skill, though you don't need to be literate to follow a drawing.
Second, get a horse with decent storage. You’re going to be carrying heavy armor pieces back. If you’re still on foot, you’ll likely become "overburdened," which makes you a sitting duck for any bandit who smells the Groschen on you.
Third, head to the woods southeast of the Neuhof stud farm. Look for the deer hunting spot icon on your map if you've already explored the area. The grave is just a stone's throw from that marker.
Finally, once you dig it up, equip that gear immediately. Don't wait. The world of 1403 Bohemia is dangerous, and having a Warhorse helmet on your head is the difference between a minor headache and a "Game Over" screen.
Get the gear. Repair it at the nearest grindstone or armorer. Then, go find the rest of the maps if you have the patience, but know that you’ve already found the best part of the set.
Now, get back to the Rattay Mill, grab that shovel, and head toward Neuhof. The treasure isn't going anywhere, but those Cumans aren't getting any weaker.