Since the beginning of time, humans have been using images and texts to convey stories and messages. The earliest developments of this are glyphs, which means a mark that is meant to communicate something. Growing up in Peru, I was made aware from an early age about one of the most famous geoglyphs in the world, which are the Nazca Lines.
According to Wikipedia, a geoglyph refers to a large design or motif (generally longer than 4 meters) produced on the ground by durable elements of the landscape, such as stones, stone fragments, gravel, or earth. There are two types of geoglyphs: A positive geoglyph, which is formed by the arrangement of materials on the ground (similarly to petroforms), and a negative geoglyph which is formed using carving (similar to petroglyphs).
The history and significance of the Nazca Lines are for the most part a mystery, which makes them all the more fascinating to admire and look at. It is believed that the Nazca Lines were made by removing the top layer of reddish-brown iron oxide-coated pebbles to create a yellow-gray subsoil and were created between 500 BCE and 500 C. They can be found in the southern part of Peru in the soil of the Nazca Desert and are best seen from air. The lines depict various animals and plants, and the designs measure between 400 and 1,100 meters across. The combined length of all the lines is over 1,300 km, and the lines are typically 10 to 15 cm (4–6 in) deep.
Example of a famous Nazca Line – “The Spider” (History.com)
Example of another famous Nazca Line – “The Hummingbird” (Getty Images)
What interests me the most about the Nazca lines are the many theories surrounding heir existence. Some theorize that they were created by the Nazca people to be seen by deities in the sky, while others say that they are part of rituals to summon water. It has also been theorized that the lines could act as an astronomical calendar. However, the most intriguing theory is the belief that there were alien influences. Many have similar theories regarding other historic sites such as the Egyptian Pyramids, Stonehenge, and Easter Island so it is not surprising that the man that came up with the alien theories for the other historic sites, Swiss writer Erich von Däniken, came to a similar conclusion about the Nazca Lines.
Von Daniken published a book titled “Chariots of the Gods’’ in 1968 in which he describes his theory that these mysterious lines were actually used as landing sites for UFOs, and that the Nazca lines site reflected visits by astronauts from other worlds, who became the creators of ancient civilizations. In his theory, he talks about an “ancient astronaut” (the aliens) who came and created the landing tracks, and he uses one of the Nazca Lines who looks like an astronaut to back up his theory. However, it is highly speculated that the “astronaut” he is referring to is simply just a drawing of a person or a fisherman. Many scientists and archeologists declared his theory as absurd, but his book drew in many believers and visitors to the site, making the Nazca Lines one of the most highly visited places in Peru.
The “Astronaut” Nazca Line that Von Daniken refers to (Machu Travel Peru)
CITATIONS:
(n.d.). Nazca Lines. Retrieved from https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.britannica.com%2Fplace%2FNazca-Lines&psig=AOvVaw3RHI4EBj3rpSCtb_qQIjpt&ust=1664679796617000&source=images&cd=vfe&ved=0CAwQjRxqFwoTCMDzxdGFvvoCFQAAAAAdAAAAABAW.
Admin. (2021, October 25). All about the Nazca Lines Images: Blog Machu Travel Peru. Peru Travel Blog | Machu Travel Peru. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.machutravelperu.com/blog/nazca-lines-images
History.com Editors. (2017, December 4). Nazca Lines. History.com. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://www.history.com/topics/south-america/nazca-lines
Wikimedia Foundation. (2022, September 25). Nazca Lines. Wikipedia. Retrieved September 30, 2022, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazca_Lines