Lostpedia
Register
Advertisement
Fullblastdoor

A full picture of the blast door map

Inside DHARMA Initiative station three, the Swan, there were a series of blast doors which could descend to seal off the living quarters from the rest of the Hatch during a lockdown procedure. The cause and purpose of a lockdown procedure is currently unknown, although it could be triggered manually as it was by Kelvin Joe Inman and Desmond in "Live Together, Die Alone, Part 1". They regularly tricked the system in to forcing a lockdown to work on a huge, hand-drawn map on the surface of one of the blast doors. The hidden map seemed to be a crude map of at least part of the Island. The perimeter was octagonal and reminiscent of the DHARMA Initiative's logo. The map was only visible under black light.

Kelvin revealed to Desmond it was Radzinsky who started the map and figured out how to fake the lockdowns. Following the death of Radzinsky, Kelvin continued the map, although at a much slower pace. He told Desmond that he did not posess the photographic memory of Radzinsky, which allowed him to remember exactly where he left off.

When the fake lockdowns were initiated, no black light began shining, which forced the map's creators to work blindly. Laundry detergent was at least one of the substances used as "ink" for the map. Other substances might have been used, as indicated by the different colors on the map. It is not known whether Desmond actually contributed to the map himself.

Locke saw the blast door map for the first time while being trapped under one of the blast doors in the Lockdown Incident. A series of black lights switched on, in a way that is currently unknown, to reveal the map and its contents.

There were at least two types of notations on the map: printed notes in English, which were very factual and seemingly informed; and Latin-language notes in a cursive hand, which were more observational and speculative — even philosophical. Beneath the writings and drawings was a topographical map.

The hidden map

Locations and geography

Main article: Blast door map geography

BlastDoorMap

The written notations

The hidden map shows the location of six stations (with a seventh scratched out), all "pointing" to the center of the Island, represented on the map by a large question mark. Four of the bunkers have both graphics and text identifiers, appearently their respective names and logos; the two remaining have no titles, and their icons are difficult to decipher. The named stations listed on the hidden map are, counter-clockwise: the Arrow, the scratched out station, the Staff, the Flame, the Swan, unknown and unknown. The central location, indicated by the question mark was revealed to be the Pearl in episode "?" (as confirmed by the production team here). This is a viewing station to view those in action at the Swan, and possibly other stations around the Island.

Notations

Main article: Blast door map notations

There are numerous handwritten notations on the blast door map. They are written in several scripts, suggesting multiple contributors. The notes can be grouped into four general categories, English commentary, Latin Commentary, Mathematical Equations, and single object labels (the Swan, the Flame, CVIII, ect). The Latin phrases appear to be more of a running commentary than insightful notations about the map. By contrast, the majority of the notations written in English address the various stations, a cryptic incident, possible shutdowns, a Cerberus system, a DharmaTel network, scientific equations, and zoological research.

Math, equations, science

Main article: Blast door map equations

Hidden map dates2

Enhanced closeup of date

Found on the blast door map are several equations, both mathematical and scientific, written as additional notations to the diagram. Three trigonometric equations are located in the top left-hand corner of the blast door map, two calculus problems appear to be engineering/physics equations related to magnetics, two derived values are found at the far right of the map, and other various mathematical equations are spread throughout it.

Timeline

Main article: Blast door map timeline

There are several notations on the hidden map that appear to be dates which use a month/day/year format. Some appear to indicate a "shutdown" occurred. What was shut down and why it was shutdown are unknown. There is another date reference to a zoological research facility and a reference to something called an AH/MDG incident of 1985.

Locke's map

Main article: Locke's map

Lockeattempt3

During the Lockdown incident, while being trapped under one of the blast doors, Locke saw the blast door map for the first time. He later tried to recreate the map on paper by drawing what he remembered. Locke only had a few seconds to look at the blast door map though, so his memories of the details were rather patchy. He appeared to recall the station locations, the 'rivers' and the "?" in the middle the best. After various attempts, particularly in "S.O.S."., Locke finally drew a good copy, which was seen in "?", when he was handing it to Mr. Eko.

Gallery

Nuvola warning The use of images on their own, or in galleries of images without visually illustrating the contents of an article is against fair use as described in United States Copyright law. Please do not recreate this gallery. Nuvola warning


External links

Map commentary

Raw images

Fan-annotated and translated images

Advertisement