The Nazca Lines

Early the next morning, after breakfast, we drove to the regional airport for a flight over the ancient geoglyphs known as the Nazca Lines. These mysterious works remain one of the great mysteries of ancient human civilization. Their purpose is the subject of scientific research, history, folklore, and speculation.

After checking in and a brief wait in the airport, we boarded one of several sightseeing planes for the hour-long scenic flight.

At first, as our pilots began pointing out features and images on the ground, it was hard to recognize them. But, as our eyes and minds adjusted, we began to grasp the nature and scale of the gigantic drawings in the terrain, and the images began to emerge.

The lines are estimated to have been etched into the desert soil about 2,000 years ago by the Nazca people who lived circa 200 B.C.E. to 600 C.E. Some of the geoglyphs appear to predate the Nazca people. They may have been built by the earlier Paracas people (400 to 200 B.C.E.).¹

Original image of The Condor as sent to the author’s brother

The Hummingbird measures approximately 320 feet long by 216 feet wide.

Later, back on the ground we would visit the site of two towers, the first built at the behest of the indefatigable researcher Dr. Maria Reiche, and a later, taller tower, both of which can be seen in the aerial photograph below. Some interesting geoglyphs can be observed and studied from the vantage of the towers.

View from the newer, taller tower—original and enhanced.

The next day, we would visit the museum dedicated to Dr. Maria Reiche—originally of Dresden, Germany—who worked relentlessly, without recognition until years later, to catalog more than 300 Nazca geoglyphs, study their construction, purpose, the people who conceived and built them, and their potential motivations. Much of this remains the subject of scientific research to this day and the subject of folklore, speculation, and conspiracy theories.