Géoglyphes de Nazca

Discovered in 1926 with the Peru, the géoglyphes of Nazca are great figures traced on the ground, often figurative, sometimes long of several Kilomètre S which are in the Désert. The ground on which they take shape is covered with stones that the Oxide iron coloured in Gris. By removing them, the Nazcas revealed a ground Gypse ux more clearly, cutting out contours of their images.

These géoglyphes is the fact of civilization Nazca, a culture pre ïque INCA of the South of the Peru which developed between 300 av. J. - C. and 800 of our era. The lines and géoglyphes of Nazca and Pampas of Jumana are registered on the Liste of the world heritage of UNESCO since 1994.

Description

Experiments of experimental Archéologie proved that the realization of géoglyphes using rudimentary tools, like stakes and cords, in order to reproduce an increased version of a preliminary drawing, did not pose any particular problem, and was without any doubt with the range of people of builders like Nazcas.

Starting from Model S, Nazcas probably carried out the works with large scales using geometrical processes simple, the such Carroyage. One found various potteries taking again the same reasons. These drawings were preserved thanks to the characteristics of the ground, with the Température of raised surface, and with the quasi-total absence of Précipitation S in the local climate of the plate.

They take the form of Singe S, of hummingbirds and of Condor S where pullulate Spirale S and ellipse S. Imprimés on the surface of the Pampa, the drawings cross the ravines, climb the hills without their form nor the straightness connecting lines are affected. These layouts represent the animal divinities of the the Pantheon religious of Nazcas.

The microclimate allows the conservation of the lines, because:

the plate is one of the driest areas of the world (thirty millimetres of rain per annum);
the ground without vegetation strongly heats the air (what creates an air cushion which, in its turn, protects the géoglyphes from the wind);
finally the Gypse contained in the ground “sticks” sand and dust.

Without sand, nor dust to cover the plain and with little rain or wind to erode them, the layouts remains intact.

One already counted more than 350 distinct drawings.

Archaeological theories

; Astronomical calendar According to the German mathematician Maria Reiche, which devoted the major part of its life to the archaeological study and the safeguarding of the site, the géoglyphes would form immense a astronomical Calendrier , whose lines point towards remarkable star S or Constellation S (Bibliographie -1).

This theory was cancelled in 1968 by the American astrophysicist Gerald Hawkins, according to research which it carried out while being based on data-processing calculations. By reconstituting the sky chart such as it was at the time of Nazca, it shows that 80% of the géoglyphes do not have any relation with the important constellations, however its research were demolished because of a serious error of methodology. It had reconstituted the sky chart while being based on that of Stonehenge which is not in the same hemisphere.

; A ritual site archeologists carried out counterparts with identical figures of Nazca using their students in a relatively short time. Nowadays, the communities nasca carries out a procession on the course which form some of the figures. This rite can be recent, and it there not of proof that it was always practiced.

The figures were also associated with the Chamanisme. The majority of these figures are close to prehistoric sites of rupestral Art which present similar images, but with more small scales. The Chaman S took substances Hallucinogène S which enabled them to see them animal-capacity, a current practice in South America and particularly in Amazonia. Some of the drugs used during the ritual ceremonies give the feeling to fly in the airs. It would be the reason for which the géoglyphes are created to be seen sky.

Still more simply, these drawings would be intended for gods living the skies.

This theory is accredited by the fact that the animal reasons are the same ones as those which one finds in the the Pantheon nazca, for example on ceramics. One can also note that the majority of the figures consist of only one line never recutting itself.

; An artisanal zone of tisserands Henri Stierlin emitted in 1984 the idea that the lines were used to prepare and chain weft threads of funeral fabrics found in the tombs of Nazca. These fabrics indeed have the characteristic to be woven wire of only one holding. However to prepare in an artisanal way of such wire, one needs a straight line of the double length to allow twisting then the retraction of the wire on itself. These lines of work were superimposed in an anarchistic way to the wire of the centuries.

However, piles found on the Large Rectangle (300 piles for this rectangle of 800 m length and 100 m broad) seem to confirm that these drawings were plotted by simple squaring: the drawing squared then is deferred on the scale on the ground where one took care to draw from the ropes which reproduce the squares.

Other theories

; Theory radiesthesist Nazcas had strongly developed the irrigation to mitigate the chronic lack of water in this arid area by building deep wells several meters connected by a network of underground aqueducts. The figures and lines would be used as reference mark to find the Résurgence S and sources feeding this network.

; Ufologic theory In Carriages off the Gods , Erich von Däniken proposed in 1968 a ufologic theory . The figures of Nazca would be either a landing strip for the spaceships Extraterrestre S, or a message carried out by the local population which would be intended to them. It belongs to the Théorie of the Former Astronauts.

; Electrosismic theory According to a theory, drivers in the form of fine gold or copper sheets would have been wide on the ground. These drivers could have been used like antennas to listen to the waves very low frequencies produced by the seisms. This assumption is based on a named still discussed theory “ITS” (for Seismic Electric Signals ).

The traces of Nazca now observed would be in fact the mark of the site where these drivers would have been deposited, but also of the many tests which would have been carried out in order to find positions adequate, in the axis of the electromagnetic fields.

That could mean that this site was used to protect the life as an oracle making it possible to communicate with the gods of the mountain. Such a worship indeed seems to be identified: Johan Reinhard, which had detailed various ancient traditions, had a theory according to which the gods of the mountain took the shape of eagles or condors, figures present on the site.

From where a double interest, at the same time protective but also probably magic and rituelic.

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