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Archaeology & History

Has the Nazca Lines mystery been solved ?

By T.K. Randall
January 27, 2021 · Comment icon 13 comments

Were the Nazca Lines designed to transport water ? Image Credit: Yamagata University / IBM
A new archaeological study has reportedly discovered the true purpose of the enigmatic Peruvian geoglyphs.
Situated on a remote arid plateau in southern Peru, the Nazca Lines are a series of spectacular artistic designs, including images of spiders, monkeys, hummingbirds, fish and lizards, which were etched in to the desert floor around 2,000 years ago.

The designs were produced by removing the red colored pebbles that litter the desert to unveil the white dusty ground underneath.

Some of the drawings are huge and measure up to 200 meters across.

Exactly how and why the ancient people who once lived in the region created these geoglyphs remains unclear, but now a team of archaeologists headed up by Spanish engineer Carlos Hermida believe that they have finally found the answer.
The Nazca Lines, they argue, were a complex irrigation system designed to bring water to the plains.

"Not only have we unveiled the mystery with numerous and conclusive proofs, but we have also discovered a system that can save millions of lives around the world," said Hermida.

The team's findings will be officially presented next month.

"The disclosure of this study will lead us to understand from now on the famous Nazca Lines as a complex system of water management for the irrigation of vast extensions of the desert, which had the objective of controlling it and taking advantage of it in the different seasons of the year in the face of such changing humidity conditions in that region," the official press release reads.

Source: Digital Journal | Comments (13)




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Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #4 Posted by Eldorado 4 years ago
Anyone translate the gist of this....? https://www.scribd.com/document/95260775/INFORME-con-imagenes-en-PDF-PROYECTO-SALVAR-NAZCA-facebook
Comment icon #5 Posted by Earl.Of.Trumps 4 years ago
Two issues: One, I find it peculiar that in the history of the Christian faith, Christians have always envisioned that god, the angels, saints, and all the souls in a "heaven" are all above the clouds, and one must look UP of course to be looking toward heaven. Now, what is so hard  to envision that the Nazca culture feels similarly in that their gods are above the clouds, hence, that is the reason why the lines are created  to be seen from above only. The "made to be seen by ET" - theory is without substantiation and is likely total bull, IMO. Secondly, this theory of "irrigation" is - IM... [More]
Comment icon #6 Posted by Tatetopa 4 years ago
Physical evidence can be interpreted.  The minds of people and their esoteric reasons for creating seemingly non-functional artifacts can't be accurately reproduced without introducing bias from the interpreter and their own culture. I notice the Nazca lines are still part of one of the driest deserts on earth.  There is no reported evidence of organic remains in their vicinity.  If it had been for irrigation, you would expect some evidence remaining in the soil.   Like good engineers, the Spanish team could recreate the lines somewhere else and test their theory.   Wanna bet they never... [More]
Comment icon #7 Posted by Seti42 4 years ago
If they were used for irrigation, there would be evidence of water flow erosion in the geoglyphs themselves. Some would likely also still channel water. There's no evidence, that I've seen, of either.
Comment icon #8 Posted by ercbreeze 4 years ago
Makes sense: Draw various and artistic pictures in the desert to irrigate.   (sarcasm here)
Comment icon #9 Posted by keithisco 4 years ago
Irrigation in Nazca was effected using the subterranean Puqois system - which is well described (at least since 2003) and have no relationship to the geoglyphs. Dodgy research is my guess: Wiki
Comment icon #10 Posted by Hammerclaw 4 years ago
No, they're just darker surface material scraped off a few inches to expose the lighter sub strata.
Comment icon #11 Posted by woopypooky 4 years ago
why aren't the irrigation in straight lines but in shapes of fingers and legs?
Comment icon #12 Posted by Brandy333 4 years ago
The lines IMO are too exact and/or precise to have been made by humans, or humans alone, unless they had an extraordinary calibration ability.   But I doubt it.   If they were formed for irrigation purposes then there would be signs of water among the rocks, but I don't think there is any.   Also, if for irrigation why go to such lengths to make such elaborate designs?   There must be another reason for them.
Comment icon #13 Posted by Abramelin 3 years ago
No aliens necessary: https://anthropology.cornell.edu/anthroarkeo-class-re-created-nazca-lines-arts-quad   https://westerncourier.com/41241/news/students-recreate-nazca-geoglyph-at-western/


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