Some scientists believe they are linked to the heavens with some representing constellations in the night sky. However, from the air, their true beauty and the wonders of their creation can be realized.ĭespite a plethora of research on these amazing creations, the purpose of the lines continues to elude researchers and remains a matter of conjecture. The earliest lines, created with piled up stones, date as far back as 500 BC.Īlthough the lines can in fact be seen from the ground, there is nothing remotely exciting about seeing them from this perspective. The Nazca lines number in their thousands and the vast majority of them date from 200 BC to 500 AD, a time when a people referred to as the Nazca inhabited the region. The startling feature of the Nazca geoglyphs is that they can only really be appreciated from the air, raising questions about how and why they were created. The geoglyphs depict living creatures, stylized plants and imaginary beings, as well as geometric figures several kilometers long. They are among archaeology's greatest enigmas because of their quantity, nature, size and continuity. Located in the arid Peruvian coastal plain, some 400 km south of Lima, the geoglyphs of Nazca cover an incredible 450 km2. The Enigmatic Nazca Lines of PeruĪerial view of the Nazca Lines Owlman (astronaut), Peru. Here we examine ten alluring geoglyphs from across the planet. Yet another idea is that the lines are connected with water, something vital to life yet hard to get in the desert. Other experts believe that the lines played a role in pilgrimage, with one walking across them to reach a sacred place. Some scientists believe they are linked to the heavens, representing constellations in the night sky.

Despite a plethora of research on these amazing creations, the purpose of geoglyphs continues to elude researchers and remains a matter of conjecture. Yet, scattered across the globe are thousands of other geoglyphs that are equally as impressive. The earth carvings remain one of archaeology’s greatest mysteries. The most well-known geoglyphs in the world are undoubtedly the Nazca Lines of coastal Peru.

Scattered glyphs in ancient baths