What are the Nazca Lines?

Let's start with the not-so-good news. When we ask about the Nazca Lines—those pale, colored markings that adorn the desert of southern Peru—an entirely satisfying answer remains elusive. While the Nazca lines (sometimes spelled 'Nasca') remain a mystery, Peruvian anthropologists have developed strong hypotheses regarding their origins and potential purpose.

Now, for the good news: We have a fairly solid understanding of their creation. Even the theories that have been debunked provide valuable insight into their purpose. Let's dive into the facts and begin our investigation, just as any detective would.

These drawings are referred to as geoglyphs, which encompass any symbol or design etched into the earth's surface. In the dry deserts of Peru, where annual rainfall is less than an inch, the rocks appear a rusty brown. However, beneath a layer of soil, the sand reveals a chalky white color [source: Golomb]. The ancient peoples of Peru, including the Paracas—who predate the Nazca—noticed the contrast and began creating the lines over 1,000 years ago. Some lines date back to the Paracas culture, while others were added by the Nazca. Despite being carried over from one culture to the next, the purpose of these lines remains unclear. It's unlikely they were created just for fun.

The theories about the purpose of the lines have evolved since their initial 'discovery.' When they first captured attention in the 1920s and '30s, it was widely believed that the lines served as a kind of astronomical or celestial mapping system. However, those ideas have now been replaced with a much more practical theory.

Rather than marking equinoxes or functioning as some sort of calendar, it's now believed that the lines served as pathways leading to ritual sites. Archaeological finds, such as altars, suggest that the lines were used to guide people to ceremonial locations. What were these rituals about? Likely requests for water, as the region grew increasingly arid during the Nazca civilization [sources: Golomb; Hall].

Here's another interesting fact: It was once thought that the Nazca lines could only be 'seen' from the sky after the advent of flight. In fact, the earliest versions of the lines were placed on hillsides, making them visible to people from the valleys below. By the time the Nazca people came into the picture, the lines had gradually shifted onto the plains [source: Hall].