How were the Nazca Lines created, and why?
Ancient art meant to be seen only from the sky.
The answer
The Nazca Lines in Peru were created between 500 BCE and 500 CE by simply removing reddish iron oxide-coated pebbles to reveal the lighter ground beneath. These enormous geoglyphs - some spanning 370 meters - depict animals, plants, and geometric shapes visible only from the air. Researchers believe they served ritual purposes related to water and fertility, as many lines point toward water sources in the arid desert landscape.
Source: Smithsonian Magazine
- Peru
- archaeology
- ancient art
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