Tales of the Lines Trivia Quiz

Answer: Peru

The Nazca Lines are located in Peru, about 400 km (250 miles) south of Lima, between the towns of Nazca and Palpa. Hundreds of the Lines exist; in fact, it is believed that they cover an area of approximately 450 square km, or 280 square miles.

When first discovered, one of the earliest theories about the Lines was that they were used for religious purposes, as only the gods in the skies could see the lines in their entirety. It has been confirmed, however, that the figures drawn with the lines can be viewed from surrounding hillsides.

Answer: Desert plateau

The Lines are located in the Nazca Desert on a high, very dry plateau. There is little wind and no dust or sand. The climate of the area remains virtually the same year-round, and has been said to receive only twenty minutes of annual rainfall!

Believe it or not, one of the theories concerning the purpose of the Nazca Lines, in an area that is so dry, is that it could have been a memorial place to commemorate a great flood! It is known that many ancient people had deluge-myths, and maybe the humans, animals and plants were drawn to show what had previously occupied the area.

Answer: Pre-Columbian Period

Although there is still much discussion about when the Nazca Lines were made, historians agree that they are Pre-Columbian. Many sources estimate the date of the landmarks to be from 500 BC to 500 AD. While the age of the stones cannot be determined using radiocarbon dating, a stake found on the site that was thought to have been used during construction was dated at approximately 525 AD.

A discussion of the theories for the use of the Nazca Lines would not be complete without including the proposition that the site was constructed by ancient aliens, who used the Lines to land their aircraft! As it turns out, the terrain is rather soft, and in all probability would not support the weight of a landing vehicle without severe damage.

Answer: False

Many sources do give credit to a Peruvian anthropolist, Toribio Mejia Xessp, who noticed the Lines while hiking in 1927. Although he presented his findings in 1939, Paul Kosok is credited with being the first to seriously study the Lines in the early 1940s; while flying over them, he noticed the Lines formed the shape of a bird. The first modern person, however, to view the lines was Pedro Cieza de León from Spain. He mentioned them in his 1553 book, "Crónicas del Perú", where he hypothesized that the lines were used as trail markers.

Another theory regarding the purpose of the Lines is that they were used as an ancient observatory. Maybe they led to points on the horizon where the summer solstice or where other heavenly bodies rose and set? Perhaps the Lines were some sort of calendar? Paul Kosok believed the Lines were used as an astronomical observatory, and called them, "the largest astronomy book in the world". Over twenty years later, a computer program disproved his theory.

Answer: Geoglyph

A geoglyph is a piece of art that is produced on the ground that is made using natural materials that are part of the terrain, such as trees, rocks, or the earth itself. There are many examples of this type of art around the world; Cahokia Mounds in the United States contains mounds in a variety of shapes and sizes. Megalithic structures have been found in the Urals in recent years, and, of course, there is the famous Stonehenge in England. Geoglyphs have also been found in the Amazon Rain Forest, part of Australia, and area of Scandinavia.

Some believe that the Lines were constructed as a map to located sources of underground water in one of the driest places on earth. While others doubt the hypothesis, the importance of securing a water supply is undeniable.

Answer: Trees

Plant morphology or phytomorphology is the study of the "physical form or external structure of plants". The Nazca Lines also portray images of flowers; the design in the picture is believed to be part of a tree. An article in "National Geographic" by Jason Golomb states there are "over 800 straight lines, 300 geometric figures and 70 animal (which are zoomorphic) and plant designs".

Were the Nazca Lines somehow related to human sacrifice? According to one source, eight headless bodies have been buried in the Nazca area. It is well known that the people of the Nazca culture collected trophy heads, and displayed them. In the beginning the heads were believed to have been collected as spoils of war, but recent DNA studies reveal that some of the heads actually belonged to Nazca people.

Answer: Stones were removed from the surface of the area.

The gravel or stones which cover the terrain of the Nazca plateau are dark in color due to a high content of ferrous oxide; in fact, as the stones were exposed over the centuries, the ferrous oxide caused them to become darker. Simply removing the pebbles reveals a hard sand underneath which is much lighter. Sources describe the construction process in different ways, and, of course, it had to have been labor intensive, however, there was no digging involved (the stones were picked up, were brushed away, or shallow etchings) or piling of stones. The fact that the area is so dry with little wind has left the designs mostly intact for centuries. Of course, the area around the observation tower in the picture is well-traveled, and therefore, disturbed by human presence; it is possible, however, to see the type of stones that cover the plateau.

Perhaps the Lines pointed to certain sacred areas where rituals were performed, and again, it is believed those rituals may have been connected somehow with water - not to find water, but to call for it.

Answer: Cahuachi

South of the Nazca Lines, the remains of a city have been found that is believed to have housed the Cahuachi, the people who are credited with designing and making the Lines. It appears that the city was built approximately two thousand years ago, and then abandoned for reasons unknown. The city, which overlooked some of the lines, is believed to have been a major ceremonial center, with a relatively small permanent population, increasing in size at times when major pilgrimages were made to the area. Archaeological excavation reveals much information about the city and people, who crafted fine pottery and textiles.

We know the Cahuachi were very talented weavers. One theory is that the lines were used as a loom. "The Indians hadn't wheels and looms, so they organized hundreds of men who held the string. Their position was defined by the lines".

Answer: False

It has been demonstrated by modern scientists that very simple techniques were used to draw the Nazca Lines. Straight lines can be made using wooden stakes; two can be placed to make a straight line, and then the third could be sighted to continue the line. This method can be used to make the straight line as long as needed; stakes found at the end of some of the lines indicate that this was the method used. These same stakes produced the organic materials needed for radiocarbon dating. It is believed that smaller designs could have been drawn, and then placed on the ground using a grid system.

One theorist hypothesized that the drawings were all part of a system of picture writing.

Answer: Each poses a threat to the preservation of the Lines.

Weather patterns change over time, and in recent years there has been landslides and flooding in the area. Although the damage is not considered "significant", any damage to the Lines must cause concern. Believe it or not, the Pan American Highway was constructed through the tail of one of the lizard figures. Visitors viewing the site are expected to wear special shoes to avoid damage to the fragile area; in fact, members of Greenpeace have been accused of causing damage by wearing everyday shoes. There are many who visit the Lines in order to pillage for archaeological treasure, and they have caused irreparable damage to the site.

Throughout the world, ancient people were inspired to take on seemingly impossible projects to honor their religion. Could it be that the Lines were paths that led to sacred shrines? After researching the traditional religious ways of people in the region, one scientist believes he has proven that they were! He found that the ancient people normally visited shrines that were joined by straight lines; perhaps religious festivals were held within the areas of some of the symbols.