Claire Dean
Claire Dean

Claire Dean

Travel in South America is a joy to behold. The rich variety of destinations, experiences, landscapes and geography fascinated me so much, that I chose to relocate here, over 20 years ago! The best thing I ever did! Allow me to share my knowledge and passion for Central and South America with you and help you plan your holiday of a lifetime!

The Mysterious Nazca Lines

The Mysterious Nazca Lines

4MINREAD

Written by:Claire Dean

Published: 2022-09-05

The magnificent world-renowned Nazca lines have been the subject of mystery for over 80 years. How were they formed? What purpose did they serve? Were aliens involved? If you fly over the desert on the southern coast of Peru, you’ll spot dozens of line drawings stretching hundreds of feet across the arid landscape. The Nazca people created these images, depicting such characters as a whale, a hummingbird, an astronaut and a spider nearly 2,000 years ago. The etchings may have served as a massive astronomical calendar or paid homage to their gods; however, their actual purpose still eludes historians.

 

The Nazca Lines, located on the arid coastal plains of Peru, are among the most mysterious and enigmatic creations of ancient civilizations. These enormous geoglyphs, etched into the desert ground over 2,000 years ago, have puzzled historians, archaeologists, and visitors alike for centuries. Visit the spectacular Nazca Lines on your Peru tour packages!

View from The Aeroplane

Nazca Lines: Unraveling the Mysteries of Ancient Geoglyphs

The lines are known as geoglyphs, drawings on the ground made by removing rocks and earth to create a “negative” image. The stones covering the desert have oxidized and weathered to a deep rust color, and because there’s so little rain, wind and erosion, the exposed designs have remained largely intact for 500 to 2000 years. Scientists believe that the majority of lines were made by the Nazca people, who flourished from around A.D. 1 to 700. These geoglyphs are a mystery because they can only be fully seen from high above in the air. And when there is a mystery, all sorts of theories follow. How did the people who created them ever see them in total, and why were they made in the first place?

 

The lines and their purpose have remained a topic of much debate. Their true meaning and origin continue to elude scholars to this day. Over 800 straight lines, geometric shapes, and animal figures cover an area of approximately 500 square kilometers, including the magnificent hummingbird lines. When you visit Peru, head South of Lima to see these incredible ancient lines.

Hummingbird

The Theories

One theory behind the purpose of these lines is that they were designed for sacred ceremonies for the Nazca people, who prayed to various deities for agriculture and water. These shapes were made to spread out over 50 kilometers so the above gods could see them.

The Kosok-Reiche astronomy theories were held until the 1970s when a group of American researchers arrived in Peru to study the lines. This new wave of research started to poke holes in the archaeo-astronomy view of the lines, not to mention the somewhat bizarre theories in the ‘60s relating to aliens and ancient astronauts.

 

The Spaceman Nazca Line is a topic of interest. This is because one of the theories behind The Nazca Lines is that aliens constructed them. This idea is often supported by claims that the Nazca Lines can only be fully seen from the air and that the Nazca people lacked the technology to create such precise designs without the assistance of more advanced beings. Delve into more Nazca mysteries on your Peru holiday packages.

Spaceman

Seeking Water: Johan Reinhard's Insights on the Nazca Lines

Johan Reinhard, a National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence, brought a multidisciplinary approach to the analysis of the lines: “Look at the large ecological system, what’s around Nazca, where were the Nazca people located.” Water was an essential factor in a region that receives only about 20 minutes of rain annually. "It seems likely that most of the lines did not point at anything on the geographical or celestial horizon, but rather led to places where rituals were performed to obtain water and fertility of crops," wrote Reinhard in his book The Nazca Lines: A New Perspective on their Origin and Meanings. Reinhard points out that spiral designs and themes have also been found at other ancient Peruvian sites. Animal symbolism is common throughout the Andes and is found in the biomorphs drawn upon the Nazca plain: spiders are believed to be a sign of rain, hummingbirds are associated with fertility, and monkeys are located in the water-rich Amazon region.

 

The exact method used for the Nazca Lines is still not entirely clear, but it is believed that they were made by removing the reddish-brown iron oxide-coated pebbles that cover the surface of the Nazca desert. By removing the top layer of stones, the lighter-colored soil beneath was exposed, creating the contrast that makes the lines visible. see them on your Peru private tours.

Nazca Airport

The Nazca Lines: Alien Theories and Water Markers

Erich von Däniken's theory is the most famous approach to solving the mystery of the Nazca lines. He had the idea that visitors from other stars from long ago visited the earth and landed here. His theory suggests that during the landing, stones were blown away by the power of rocket propulsion.

David Johnson believes that the Nazca Figures are markers for underground water flow. Trapezoids show the broadness of the water stream; zigzag lines show where they end, and lines show the direction of the puquios. Reindel sympathizes with Johnson's Theory. Additionally, he explains the nature of the figures by rod-dowsing to find the underground water and shamanistic flights to view the statistics) from above.

 

Dr. Maria Reiche, trained as a mathematician and scientist, became famous for her life’s work as an archaeologist. She studied the Nazca Lines, a mysterious set of enormous geoglyphs only visible from the air drawn by ancient Peruvians 2000 years ago Visit the Maria Reiche museum when you visit Nazca on your Ica tours.

Maria Reiche Museum, Nazca

 

Add new technological research to the mix, and there’s no doubt that the world’s understanding of the Nazca lines will continue to evolve. For archaeology and history enthusiasts who want to witness this mystery, Valencia Travel can arrange tours to view the Nazca Lines from a small plane to learn more about all the existing theories. However, it is essential to remember that flight times are always subject to change due to weather or wind conditions on the day of the flight. Book now to discover your theory about why these magnificent lines exist! 
 

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