Jose A. Benzaquen Perea
One of the greatest mysteries that Peru has to offer to the world is the “Nazca Lines”, located in the reign of Ica, 400 km south of Lima, the Peruvian capital.
Unesco declared Nazca Lines a 'Cultural Heritage of Humanity' in 1994 and it has become one of the archaeological mysteries in the world.
The Nazca Culture flourished more than 1500 years ago and extended its influence into the Pisco Valley in the north and the Acari Valley in the south near the Pacific Ocean.
One of the legacies of this culture has been around 800 figures made on the desert of this area near the Pacific Ocean, which is why until now it remains a vestige of the ancient Peruvians.
These figures consist of a set of animals and plants and geometric shapes in a territory of more than 600 km2.
Among the shapes on the earth are one like a hummingbird with a wingspan of 76 metres; a monkey with extension of 135 metres, a dog with fence 50 metres long, a spider with 46 metres, and others.
The desert maintains its line drawings, a legacy that will continue to pose a question in Peruvian and world history, the question by the archaeologists — even nowadays — of 'how it was made' is the big question that until now we continue to study.
The Nazca lines
According to studies, it is believed that sketches were made and enlarged into figures. These lines are located in one of the closest areas.
This extraordinary heritage was discovered in 1927, by the Peruvian German scientist Maria Reiche who dedicated all her life to demonstrate that the lines of Nazca where represented as an astronomical calendar in order to know the times of the harvests of the ancients Peruvian.
She is known for her research in the Nazca Lines, which she first saw in 1941 together with American historian Paul Kosok. Maria investigated in her book “Mystery on the desert”, for which she received the highest recognition in Peru “La Orden del Sol”.
I remember Maria Reiche when she was working even while suffering from health condition, walking in the area of the lines without a good vision, but with a good company who encouraged her to continue her personal research.
Nowadays, there is another theory related to the irrigation and having water in this desert area of Peru.
The American David Johnson says it was a map that was used to locate the wells where they had water. It is significant for our global history to have this place where no body can’t demonstrate a human being work the reason to leave this creation that we can only see from the higher mountains or by air, but without doubt it constitutes an attraction so that visitors to Peru can at sight have their own conclusions.
It is worth mentioning for some professors of archaeology that the figures represented the gods of nature, of creation, where rituals were performed, through the sounds of music, therefore they are large to be seen from the sky.
Another Swiss scientist deducted that they were lands that served for alien landings, based on an existing humanoid figure, such as an extraterrestrial.
Extraordinary images, they are unique, there is nothing like it on the entire planet. They were hidden, it has not received a response over the centuries, and it continues to baffle archaeologists. In the last two years, 30 new lines have been unveiled. Incomprehensible creatures like an orca or whale. It is the oldest with 2 thousand years at present and the exploration is carried out with great care. Likewise, we have to mention the extraordinary geometric figures. They represent straight lines; figures to runways as they could be for landings; trapezoids; and an inexplicable plot. Pottery pieces have also been found.
How outstanding are the new discoveries of the archeological sites that has always been a great surprise that changes our vision and the history. Recently, in the recent finding made in Qatar we discovered various archaeological remains in the Al Usaylah cemetery, one of the oldest historical sites in Qatar, which dates back to the period between 300 BC and 300 AD, making the discovery highly significant in Qatar’s archaeological history. Such discoveries put a new aspect that changes the way history was observed.
The hummingbird and spider
There are many spaces in which the human beings, scientists and researchers, have no answers to; such as the studies of Nicolas Copernico, Galileo Galilei, Isaac Newton, Albert Einstein, John Howkins, and many others. Everything is changing.
I believe that this world still continues to be a mystery, in many aspects or research topics, the only thing that we are sure about is the existence of a Supreme Being, a God who governs our lives.
To finish, I can only — very cordially — invite you to visit Peru to see its many and many attractions that will make your lives better.
