The Mysterious Nazca Lines

The Mysterious Nazca Lines

1. The Nazca were an ancient people that lived in Peru, in South America, about 2,000 years ago. The people are well known for creating the Nazca lines. The Nazca lines are famous all over the world and they can still be seen clearly and easily today.

2. The Nazca Lines are a mysterious wonder of geoglyphs in the Nazca desert in Peru.  A geoglyph is a large drawing on the ground. They are believed to be the artwork of the Nazca Indians who lived in the area between 200 BC and AD 600. The Nazca Lines extend for about 311 square miles (500 square kilometers).

3. The drawings were first discovered in 1927, when a plane was flying across this part of the desert. What is incredible is that because they are so huge, you can only really see them from the air. Today, people travel in small planes and look down on them, but in those days, how did they see them?
It’s a mystery!

4. To create their massive line drawings, the Nazcas made shallow trenches in the desert. They removed the top surface of red gravel and exposed the white earth below to create a color contrast. The Nazcas likely used poles, ropes, and lots of manpower to create the geogylphs.

5. The Lines were re-discovered in the 1920s and were first thought to have been created by the Incas, but it now seems clear that they are the legacy of a much older culture that developed over 2,300 years ago.

6. There are 70 creatures depicted in the Nazca Lines, including a spider, a monkey, a dog, and a hummingbird. The largest creature is a giant pelican that stretches about 919 feet (280 meters) long. There are also humans, plants, and countless straight lines that crisscross the desert. Similar designs can also be found in ancient Nazca pottery.

7. One of the great mysteries surrounding the Nazca Lines is that they are only truly visible from the air. While some lines can be seen from nearby foothills and a nearby watchtower, you have to go much higher up to see what the lines form. The Nazca artists most likely never saw their finished designs.

8. There are several theories about the purpose of the Nazca Lines. Some are far-fetched theories, while others makes sense. Anthropologists, spiritual leaders, and even mathematicians have come up with ideas over the years. Some people think the lines were sacred walking paths with messages to God. Others think they were etched by gods or even aliens. Many believe the lines were giant calendars or maps based on constellations and seasons. The lines may also have been used to indicate water supplies.

The Heron

9. The Nazca Lines have been preserved for thousands of years because the area gets almost no wind or rain. This type of weather results in a lack of erosion.  In 1995, the Nazca Lines were named a World Heritage Site.

10. Like the Pyramids of Egypt and the statues of Easter Island, the Nazca Lines have a timeless ability to captivate our imaginations, just as they might have captivated their creators, the Nazca people. As Maria Reiche, who dedicated more than 50 years of her life studying the geoglyphs, once said, "we will never know all the answers, that's what a good mystery is all about!"

11. Just about everybody has their own pet theory and, to be honest, your opinion will probably be just as valid as anyone else's so by far the best thing is to go and visit the Lines yourself so you can make up your own mind-who knows, something may strike you that no-one's thought of before!