Nazca

Nazca (sometimes spelled Nasca) is an important archeological site in southern Peru created during the Nazca occupation of the area, between 200 BC and 600 AD[?].

The Nazca Lines are geogliphs[?] (drawings on the ground) located in the Nazca Desert, a high arid plateau that stretches 37 miles between the towns of Nazca and Palapa.

Toribio Megia Xespe, a Peruvian doctor and anthropologist was the first scientist, in 1927, to show interest in what he called "great Incan ceremonial artifacts".

Swiss writer Eric von Daniken suggested in his 1968 book, "Chariots of the Gods", that the lines were built by ancient astronauts as a landing field. But the soft clay soil and layer of brown and black rocks in the Nazca desert would seem an unsuitable site for a landing strip.

Residents of the local villages say the ancient Indians conducted rituals on these giant drawings to thank the gods, and to ensure that water would continue to flow from the Andes.

Links

• Google: Nazca Lines (http://directory.google.com/Top/Science/Social_Sciences/Archaeology/Alternative/South_America/Nazca_Lines/)
• Die Linien von Nazca und Frau Maria Reiche (http://homes.hallertau.net/~alexbeck/bilder/sudam/nazca/nazca)