The South American enigma - the Nazca lines

Alien runways, astronomical etchings or ritual pathways, these are some of the theories created to explain the Nazca geoglyphs or lines as you will probably know them by. Created in southern Peru as the Roman Empire rose and fell in Europe, hundreds of straight lines and lesser numbers of animals, plant, and geometric designs were etched into the arid soil of the Nazca desert.

Not really visible at ground level, some of these biomorphs (figures) may have been discernible from the surrounding foothills, but would only be truly appreciated when looking down from up high, so therein lies the enigma which is the Nazca lines.

Most visitors will be travelling south from Lima where the Pan-American highway cuts through the Nazca desert outer edge severing the lizard biomorph in half. You may stop at the roadside towers where you can make out part of the tree and hand and see how the outlines have been made by digging shallow trenches so exposing the lighter coloured clay below.

View of the tree from the roadside tower

The only true way to appreciate the artistry of the Nazca people is to take a plane ride from the local airfield, but some may find this subject rather emotive. Its true in 1997 and 2010 such tourist flights crashed with fatalities and you may find if on an organised tour, this may not be offered as an option. All I can say is have a quiet word with your group leader who will probably give you some pointers on how to organise a local flight and on my experience back in 2013 the planes were like new, the outfit very professional and had no qualms before or after. At the end of the day, only you can read up and decide with the information presented.

The most stressful thing about the flight is trying to make out the shapes etched on the desert floor. You will probably be given a plan showing the layout of the shapes with a single row of seats on either side. The pilot will bank and circle one way so those on the one side can see the patterns before circling the other way so those on the other side of the plane can see. It’s quite frustrating when someone shouts out they can see the spider but you can’t! But your eyes will get tuned in and will make out most of the shapes by the end although I have to say I did miss the astronaut (giant) and didn't see the whale until I examined my photographs later!

We now come back to the most accepted theory regards the Nazca lines although I do feel a little sorry for Marie Reiche who spent forty years studying and protecting the lines and was convinced were based on the night sky and mapped to certain constellations. But it’s widely accepted nowadays these were ceremonial ways used in the hope that that scarce commodity in this region as in water would be plentiful.

As to the theory these could have only been drawn if the originators had an aerial view, my answer to that would be people seem to manage the most amazing crop circles and patterns in the modern age without aerial help.

The Monkey

The Hummingbird

The Tree and Hands (note the observation tower although I now read that another tower has been built the other side of the road so facing the hands of the lizard)

The Condor

The Parrot

The whale and various trapezoids

It’s kind of nice to know that we will never find out for sure why these were made as the Nazca people left no written record. What does amaze me is how the civilisation had such a belief and desire to do something on this scale. I can't help thinking it must have been because of fear but on the other hand, the sense of joy must have been overwhelming when the water flowed. One thing is for sure, the theorising will continue.

On a side note, the Nazca fault line runs close by, can you get anything more graphic than this as in the boundary of two tectonic plates? Tremors are common and indeed I experienced a 5.4 earthquake for a few seconds. I wonder how the Nazca people interpreted these?

The Nazca fault line