Mixed Sites in South America Trivia

1. The Nasca (Nazca) lines were etched into a desert that receives less than 3cm (1 inch) of rainfall a year. In which South American country can the Nasca lines be found?

From Quiz A Forgotten Paradise

Answer: Peru

The lines in the desert are vast and numerous. There are at least 800 straight lines, as well as geometric shapes and figures that look like plants and animals. Some of the lines are over 40km long and some of the animal shapes are as long as the Empire State Building is tall. As the desert receives very little rain, the lines have been preserved for hundreds, if not thousands of years. The purpose of the Nasca lines is unclear. Some archaeologists believed that the lines were linked to astronomical events like the winter solstice. Others believed that they were used for water rituals: either asking gods for water, or paying a debt to gods for the small amount of rain they received.

From Quiz A Forgotten Paradise

Answer: 1979

Over thousands of years, a number of cultures occupied Ecuador's coastline. There is some evidence to suggest that the Machalilla people were the first to cultivate maize in the area. In the 20th century (1979 to be precise), the area became a national park due to its abundance of wildlife. An application for UNESCO World Heritage status was submitted in 1998. The park also contains some archaeological sites, including a number from the Manteno culture.

From Quiz A Forgotten Paradise

Answer: Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku was the capital city of a large empire in an area that now covers parts of Bolivia, Peru, Chile, and Argentina. The Gate of the Sun was part of a structure that may have been an observatory near the city. It was made from a single slab of rock and has the figure of a deity carved into it. The god has an elaborate headdress and is surrounded by winged creatures.

From Quiz A Forgotten Paradise

Answer: Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis

The Jesuit Missions of the Guaranis comprise four Missions in Argentina and one in Brazil. They were built by European Jesuit missionaries in the 17th and 18th centuries. They are in ruins now (some more ruined than others), but they are monuments to the missionary efforts of Europeans during the colonial period. The structures were originally built on land that belonged to the native Guaranis, which is where their name derives.

From Quiz A Forgotten Paradise

Answer: Towards the end of the 15th century

Rumicucho was built into a hill and was made of five terraces connected with steps. Two of the terraces were for housing and workshops, two were used for feasts and rituals, and one was used for ceremonies. The building materials and the method of construction suggest that Rumicucho was built at the end of the 15th century, but a pre-Inca structure may have already existed on the site and was built upon by the Incas.

From Quiz A Forgotten Paradise

Answer: Machu Picchu

Machu Picchu is an ancient Inca town that, despite being a ruin, is remarkably well-preserved. In 1983 it became a UNESCO World Heritage site. One of the lesser-known entrances has been closed to tourists, though it can be seen from a nearby trail. There is a gap in the path with a six metre wooden plank bridge across it. The bridge meant that the path to the town was easily defendable: if any enemy came up the trail, the bridge could be taken away and soldiers could fire their arrows and throw their stones at the unsuspecting invaders.

From Quiz A Forgotten Paradise

Answer: Gold

Renowned Inca ruler, Pachacuti Inca Yupanqui, renovated the city of Cusco and the Coricancha temple. The House of the Sun, as it was also called, was heavily decorated with gold. There were gold statues and vases, as well as gold plates covering the walls. When Spanish invaders came, they stripped the temple of its valuable metal and built a cathedral in its place. Centuries later, however, an earthquake destroyed the Spanish cathedral, revealing the Inca foundations.

From Quiz A Forgotten Paradise

Answer: Mayan

Yaxha is in Guatemala near the border with Belize. It is situated next to a lake, and its name was Mayan for "blue-green water". The site contains over 500 Mayan structures which were used for religious purposes from around 600 BCE to 900 CE. Along with the pyramids, there are shrines, altars, and more than 40 stelae.

From Quiz A Forgotten Paradise

Answer: Moai

Easter Island, also known as Rapa Nui, is over 3000km away from mainland Chile. Despite being small and remote, the island is famous for its huge statues (there are over 600 of them). They are spread far and wide on the island, but their exact purpose has been lost. Some archaeologists have suggested that they were monuments to deceased members of the community and were used for ancestor worship. Due to its historical significance, the whole island became a UNESCO's World Heritage site in 1995.

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