Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are giant sketches drawn in the desert of western Peru by ancient peoples. The drawings were created on such a large scale is such that the shapes can be readily discerned only from the air, leading to a variety of theories about their purpose.
The Spider. Photo © Latin American Studies.
The "Astronaut." Photo © Latin American Studies.
Drawings of major Nazca Lines. Image © Joe Nickell.
Closeup of a Nazca Line. Photo © Latin American Studies.
The Hummingbird. Photo © Latin American Studies.
Tree and Hands. Photo © Branislav Slantchev.
Trapezoid designs. Photo © Branislav Slantchev.
Location map and aerial view of the Nazca Lines. For a larger
view see our Peru Map or get our free Google Earth download.
History
The Nazca Lines were created in the time of the Nazca Indians, who flourished in the area from 200 BC to about 600 AD. Graves and ruins of their settlement have been found near the lines.
The lines would have taken a long time to create, perhaps several generations, and many people contributed to their creation. As to the purpose of the Nazca Lines, see below for some of the theories.
