Archaeologists recently discovered a geoglyph of a large feline at the Nazca Lines, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Peru. It is believed that the geoglyphs are from 200-100 BC.
Along Peru's coast are geoglyphs that stretch from Nazca to Jumana on a total of more than 170 square miles. The numerous lines have various depictions of living creatures, plants, mythical beings, and geometrical patterns. Other animal geoglyphs include a hummingbird, monkey, and a pelican.
For thousands of years, the uninterrupted land is a highly symbolic, ritual, and social landscape. According to UNESCO, the site is a "remarkable manifestation of a common religion and social homogeneity" that lasted for a long time.
The first lines were discovered by archaeologist Roibio Mejia Xesspe. By the 1930s, air travel made it easier for historians to conduct research on the site. In modern times, drones have helped researchers take pictures of more than 100 geoglyphs.
Large Feline Geoglyph
UNESCO shared that the large cat figure was "scarcely visible and was about to disappear." It is situated on a steep slope that would naturally be affected by erosion.
The geoglyph is about 120 feet long, determined the team after the feline geoglyph was cleaned and conserved. Over the recent years, up to 100 new figures have emerged from the hills and belonged to earlier Nazca tradition between AD 200-700.
The cat is believed to belong to the late Paracas era between 500BC and 200 AD. Similar iconographies include textiles with depictions of cats and birds similar to the geoglyphs, explained archaeologist Johny Isla.
Last year, a team from Yamagata University in Japan discovered 143 new geoglyphs at the site using three-dimensional imaging. When it was first declared a World Heritage Site in 1994, there were only 30 geoglyphs identified at the time.
The Japanese scientists discovered that the lines were created using two methods. Larger lines were made from removing large stones, categorizing Type A geoglyphs. On the other hand, Type B geoglyphs were made of smaller lines by stones that made solid-covered surfaces.
Professor Masato Sakai said that Type A geoglyphs were mostly found near the river valley. Type B geoglyphs were typically found near paths or slopes, indicating that they may have been posts for travelers.
Protecting the new geoglyphs are important since the ones near urban areas are being destroyed. These discoveries will help gain insight on the distribution pattern of biomorphic geoglyphs in greater detail, said Professor Sakai.
Significance of Geoglyphs
The meaning of these geoglyphs remains unknown. While some scientists believe they describe the culture and religion of the ancient Peruvians, others believe that they are associated with astronomical observations.
Some lines were compared to irrigation channels and are believed to be used to channel water since the region is typically dry. Another theory is that some lines may have been part of a labyrinth, ceremony, or ritual for deities to bring rainfall in the desert.
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