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Published: August 7th 2007
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Next up was Nazca for the mysterious Nazca lines. I have wanted to see these for a long time as I have seen a number of t.v documentaries trying to work out their actually purpose and reason for existence and wanted to see them for myself.
First of all as usual with everything we had to haggle for a price and managed to get a decent deal for a 30 mins flight over the lines for 23 pounds per person. We could of got a bit cheaper but wanted to make sure we got a plane with out any brackets that hold the wings up on older planes as they would end up getting in most of the pictures, so choose the more modern option!
The lines were re-discovered in 1939 after planes started going over them and that’s when all the mystery started. There are over 800 lines, 300 figures, 70 animals from a spider, dog, 90m long monkey and a condor with a 170 m wingspan. For the alien theories there is a giant astronaut figure and areas that look like modern runways.
For me after seeing the lines am not to sure of their purpose
but it’s hard to get away from the theory of Aliens! I think if I had to pick one I would go for number two.
There are a number of different opinions so will let you choose.
1. The Nazca people lived in the regions from 100bc to 700ad and pre dated the Incas but had many similarities. The theory of Alien intervention is strong and that they drew these lines in honour of the visit or to bring them back. It makes a lot of sense as the lines can only be appreciated from the air and unless they had some sort of invention similar to Leonardo Da Vinci that could fly over the lines then there is no way they could really see them. There is no evidence of such a device on the thousands of pottery which have many detailed drawings but again there are also no drawings of alien space craft. The only evidence are the many mummified bodies that have deformed heads shaped into cones, which was done by putting a piece of wood on babies and wrapping it in bandages to deform the skull and make it grow upwards. The experts say
this was only done on the upper classes and was apparently to distinguish from the lower classes and have also been discovered in other parts of the world.
There is also the astronaut figure that could resemble an alien but too inconclusive, as for me it could just be a human waving! One of the other many lines are also in a design of a modern runway which people believe are landing zones for alien space craft? That would mean that the technology of the aliens would need a long level platform to land on similar to our modern day planes. Surely if they have technology to fly millions of miles then they could land where ever they wanted!
2. The Nazca people were in a constant battle with the elements and water being one of the most precious elements needed for their survival in a desert environment. So one of the theories is that the lines were for water and fertility rituals and used to appease the gods and hopefully bring water to the lands that would in turn ensure a prosperous harvest. The lines would be used as walkways which people would ritually tread whilst praying
to the gods.
3. It was used a giant astronomical calendar mapping out the star signs and constellations that were important to the Nazca people and honour the sun and moon gods.
4. A map for the local shaman which they would use when hallucinating and help them to a certain goal whilst journeying through the after world and then to find their way home.
5. They just wanted to draw some nice patterns on a large scale.
What ever the theory it was an amazing feat for a society that lived 1500-2000 years ago.
It was all well worth the visit and glad that we got to see them. I hope the pictures do them justice. The flight was very good and worth the money as the pilot always made sure that both sides of the plane got to see the more important lines. The only problem with this was the sudden banking which made you a bit disorientated and made my stomach turn!
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