Exclusive: Massive Ancient Drawings Found in Peruvian Desert

[Judi Lynn]

Armed with satellites and drones, archaeologists discover new Nasca lines and dozens of other enigmatic geoglyphs carved into the earth.

By Michael Greshko
PUBLISHED APRIL 5, 2018

Etched into the high desert of southern Peru more than a millennium ago, the enigmatic Nasca lines continue to capture our imagination. More than a thousand of these geoglyphs (literally, 'ground drawings') sprawl across the sandy soil of Nasca province, the remains of little-understood ritual practices that may have been connected to life-giving rain.

Now, Peruvian archaeologists armed with drones have discovered more than 50 new examples of these mysterious desert monuments in adjacent Palpa province, traced onto the earth's surface in lines almost too fine to see with the human eye. In addition, archaeologists surveyed locally known geoglyphs with drones for the first time—mapping them in never-before-seen detail.

Some of the newfound lines belong to the Nasca culture, which held sway in the area from 200 to 700 A.D. However, archaeologists suspect that the earlier Paracas and Topará cultures carved many of the newfound images between 500 B.C. and 200 A.D.

Unlike the iconic Nasca lines—most of which are only visible from overhead—the older Paracas glyphs were laid down on hillsides, making them visible to villages below. The two cultures also pursued different artistic subjects: Nasca lines most often consist of lines or polygons, but many of the newfound Paracas figures depict humans.

More:
https://news.nationalgeographic.com/2018/04/new-nasca-nazca-lines-discovery-peru-archaeology/

[Docreed2003]

1. Saw that in a news alert from NatGeo early today and immediately thought of you! So cool!

[Judi Lynn]

2. Did you? Me, too! I just got around to it. South America pre-Colombian discoveries are so great.

Now with the new technology possibilities, it almost looks as if they can totally change everything people have believed about the Western Hemisphere civilizations which have been around so long, some at least as old as Egypt's far more publicized sites.

It's cool to hear you get Nat'l Geo. news alert. It's outstanding.

Thanks.

[Docreed2003]

3. Agreed...the near weekly archeological/anthropology finds in central and South America

Are simply fascinating! I always enjoy your posts and I anticipated you posting this story as well! Thank you for sharing these amazing finds! (If you happen to have an iPhone you can set up news alerts and NatGeo is one of my favs)!

[Judi Lynn]

4. Yup! I ran across it the same way! Outstanding perk, isn't it? n/t

[Judi Lynn]

5. Newly Discovered Nazca Lines Have Been Hiding in The Desert For Thousands of Years

How did we miss them?

MICHELLE STARR 6 APR 2018

Archaeologists in Peru have made a stunning discovery: over 50 previously unknown Nazca lines - and some of them are centuries older than the most famous of these magnificent desert drawings.

Most of these mysterious geoglyphs were created by the Nazca people, who lived in the area from 200 to 700 CE. But the researchers believe that some of the newfound ones were created even earlier - by the Paracas and Topará people, who lived there around 500 BCE to 200 CE.

The lines have been a source of fascination and wonder for decades. Created by pushing aside the top layer of red desert pebbles to reveal the pale layer underneath, these geoglyphs span vast tracts of the Nazca Desert, between the towns of Nazca and Palpa.

Some of them form geometric shapes, some are simple lines, and some are combined into elaborate depictions of animals and objects.

More:
https://www.sciencealert.com/over-50-new-nazca-lines-peru-desert-paracas-topara