What Are The Nazca Lines?

Rich in history, culture and ancient archaeology, Peru is brimming with more than its fair share of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. Perhaps none are more intriguing than the Nazca lines, one of the most awe-inspiring, remarkable, and yet puzzling archaeological areas in the world. But what are the Nazca lines, who made them and for what purpose? Let’s find out.

Aerial View Of The Spider Geoglyph, Nazca Mysterious Lines

What are the Nazca lines?

They comprise a vast collection of over 300 geoglyphs and 70 plant and animal images (known as biomorphs) etched into the Peruvian desert floor. From the air they appear as supersized figures, including a whale, condor, snake, llama, spider, tree and flower, along with various geometric motifs such as spirals, wavy lines and triangles. The largest figure spans 1,200 feet, whilst some of the straight lines run up to 30 miles.

Nazca Lines In The Beautiful Nazca Desert

Where are the Nazca Lines?

The Nazca lines are located on a plain between the Nazca and Inca valleys in southern Peru, and cover an estimated 170 square kilometres.

Tree Figure Of The Nazca Lines And The Observatory Tower To The Right

How were the Nazca Lines made and who made them?

The lines are thought to be thousands of years old, created during the time of the Nazca Indians, an ancient prehistoric culture who flourished in the area between 200 BC and 600 AD. The designs were created through removing the dark red surface stones to expose a lighter-colored subsoil. The lines likely took a long time to create, perhaps taking several generations, so it’s clear that the people involved were heavily invested in the project.

The etchings were first discovered by Peruvian archaeologist Toribio Mejia Xesspe in 1927 when he was hiking through the area’s foothills. However, it wasn’t until the late 1930s that they were brought to the world’s attention. Researchers flying over the area surveying for water realized that the lines formed animal shapes, whilst an increase in commercial flights over in the area fueled further interest in the site.

Why were they made?

Since their discovery, the Nazca lines have remained a source of great mystery to the world. Basic questions about precisely who made them, how and why, simply remain unsolved, largely because the ancient culture living in the area at the time didn’t keep written records. The particular question of how the artists were able to draw such precise figures on such a large scale without the benefit of a bird eye’s perspective is particularly curious, and has given rise to a few theories for their creation. The puzzle of how and why the Nazca lines were made have captured the imagination of numerous archaeologists, mathematicians, historians and anthropologists, who have proposed numerous theories in a an attempt to solve the enigma.

Nazca Lines Theories

1. They serve an astronomical purpose: Maria Reiche, one of the earliest and most dedicated Nazca researchers became convinced that the lines represented a huge astronomical calendar that was used to mark places on the horizon where the sun and other celestial bodies rose and set. However, most other academics found her theories lacking, and since the 1970s researchers have moved away from archeo-astronomy views of the lines.
2. They serve a religious function: One of the most convincing arguments is that the lines were constructed to please the gods or to serve other similar spiritual purposes. As a highly superstitious culture, this would explain why the Nazca people demonstrated such a huge commitment to the project. One idea is that the Nazca lines played a prominent role in pilgrimage. This was backed up when British explorer, Tony Morrison, found evidence of small shrines that appeared to be linked by the lines. Others have considered that the lines served as ritual centres to help the dead achieve immortality or for holding elaborate religious ceremonies.
3. They are related to water sources and related rituals: Inhabiting a bone-dry desert environment meant the Nazca people likely placed a high value on water. Researchers have proposed that the lines and shapes serve as a map of underground water supplies, acting as a guide for those in need of plentiful supplies when out in the desert. This theory was first proposed by archaeologist John Reinhard, who also suggested that the figures symbolized a form of worship for water-supplying deities. As many of the lines point towards the Andes, the lines could also signify reverence for the mountains and the water that flows from them.
4. Hot air balloons: In response to the question of how the Nazca people could have drawn such huge figures without being able to properly see what they were doing, drew the conclusion that they must have had an aerial perspective. In 1977, Jim Woodman proposed that they used hot-air balloons as a way to plan out and view their creations. However, this theory has since been dismissed as far-fetched. Scholars now believe that it would in fact have been possible for the Nazca people to create such figures from the ground using relatively simple surveying techniques and tools.
5. Alien airport: One of the best known theories was made by Swiss author, Erich von Daniken, who claimed that the pictures etched into the desert were made to convey messages to extra-terrestrials whilst the lines were designed as landing strips for their alien aircrafts! Whether or not you believe this admittedly eerie desert site was a former giant extra-terrestrial airport, the Nazca lines are well worth visiting on any Peru tour.

Overflight The Nazca Lines

How can you see the Nazca Lines?

You can check the lines out online using Google Earth, but that isn’t quite as exciting as seeing them in the flesh. No visit to Peru is complete without making the trip to witness this archaeological wonder for yourself. To appreciate the sight in all its glory, contact our destination specialists to arrange a Nazca Lines tour. The best views are had by taking to the sky via a small cessna plane from either the Maria Reiche Neuman Airport just outside Nazca, or from Pisco Airport.

Alternatively, there is also an observation tower along the Pan-American highway which offers fantastic views over three figures, but every single geoglyph can just about be spotted from somewhere on the ground, so taking to the foothills is another great way to experience the beauty and vast scale of the lines. You never know, maybe you will be the one to figure out what the Nazca Lines are?