Nasca

Stretching across the Nasca plains - like a giant map or blueprint left by ancient astronauts, lie the famous Nasca Lines of Peru.

The Nasca Lines are an enigma. No one know who had built them or indeed why. Since their discovery, the Nasca Lines have inspired fantastic explanations from ancient gods, a landing strip for returning aliens, a celestial calendar, used for rituals probably related to astronomy, to confirm the ayllus or clans who made up the population and to determine through ritual their economic functions held up by reciprocity and redistribution or, a map of underground water supplies.

There are also huge geoglyphs in Egypt, Malta, United States (Mississippi and California), Chile, Bolivia and in other countries. But the Nasca geoglyphs, because of their numbers, characteristics, dimensions and cultural continuity as they were made and remade through out the whole prehispanic period, form the most impressive as well as enigmatic archeological group.

The Nasca Lines are located in the Pampa region of Peru, the desolate plain of the Peruvian coast which comprises the Pampas of San Jose (Jumana), Socos, El Ingenio and others in the province of Nasca, which is 400 Km. South of Lima, covers an area of approximately 450 km2, of sandy desert as well as the slopes of the contours of the Andes. They cover nearly 400 square miles of desert. Etched in the surface of the desert pampa sand about 300 hundred figures made of straight lines, geometric shapes most clearly visible from the air. They were supposedly built by an ancient civilization called the Nasca.

The Nasca plain is virtually unique for its ability to preserve the markings upon it, due to the combination of the climate (one of the driest on Earth, with only twenty minutes of rainfall per year) and the flat, stony ground which minimises the effect of the wind at ground level. With no dust or sand to cover the plain, and little rain or wind to erode it, lines drawn here tend to stay drawn. These factors, combined with the existence of a lighter-coloured subsoil beneath the desert crust, provide a vast writing pad that is ideally suited to the artist who wants to leave his mark for eternity.

The pebbles which cover the surface of the desert contain ferrous oxide. The exposure of centuries has given them a dark patina. When the gravel is removed, they contrast with the color underneath. In this way the lines were drawn as furrows of a lighter color, even though in some cases they became prints. In other cases, the stones defining the lines and drawings form small lateral humps of different sizes. Some drawings, especially the early ones, were made by removing the stones and gravel from their contours and in this way the figures stood out in high relief.

The concentration and juxtaposition of the lines and drawings leave no doubt that they required intensive long-term labor as is demonstrated by the stylistic continuity of the designs, which clearly correspond to the different stages of cultural changes.

There appear to be two kinds of designs: the first are figures of various beings and things and the others form geometric lines.

Maria Reiche - Astronomical Calendar - She was the most famous Nasca Researcher. Lines should show in direction of the rising of important stars and planetary events like sun solstices. Formations like the spider and the monkey could show star constellations like Orion and Ursa Mayor.

The big problem of all astronomical theories is the unknowing of the age. The direction of stars is changing within centuries because the phenomena of precession of the equinoxes.

Reiche led a determined effort to discredit theories of extraterrestrial visitors. The strategy of this attack has been to argue that the Nasca Indians constructed the Lines relatively recently - some time between 300 BC and AD 800.

In support of this possibility, some scientists have put forward ingenious ideas on how the geoglyphs could theoretically have been designed from the ground. The more important evidence, however, is that which attempts to link the Lines definitively to the Nascan culture. Here, neither of the two key pieces of evidence survive close scrutiny.

The first piece of evidence is a series of radiocarbon dates, based on ceramic and wood remains which were left at the Lines by the Nascan people. It is claimed that this proves that the Nascans constructed the Lines. On the contrary, the dating of these materials tells us only that the Nascans lived in the area of the Nasca Lines. Since the Lines themselves cannot be radiocarbon dated, the possibility remains that they already existed when the Nascan culture emerged.

The second piece of evidence is the alleged resemblance of the Nasca geoglyphs to certain features found on Nascan pottery. This is an important issue because it potentially offers proof that the Nascans had either designed the images or at least viewed them from the air.

Maria Reiche, the German mathematician and archaeologist most famous for her research into the enigmatic figures of Nasca, died in 1998 at the age of 95. She is buried in the arid valley she loved so well.

Professor Gerald Hawkins and his group went to Nasca to prove the astronomical Theory of Maria Reiche but was unsuccessful. In 1968, a study by the National Geographic Society determined that, while some of the Nasca lines did point to the positions of the Sun, Moon and certain stars two thousand years ago, it was no more than could be expected by mere chance. In 1973, Dr Gerald Hawkins studied 186 lines with a computer programme and found that only 20 per cent had any astronomical orientation - again no more than by pure chance.

In 1982, Anthony Aveni obtained similar results.

Georg Petersen - 1980 - pointed out that Reiche's theory did not explain the different lengths and widths of the lines. More recently, Johan Reinhard has noted that the surrounding mountains provided a ready-made and much more effective mechanism for the Nascans to use as a solar calendar; the lines would thus have been quite superfluous to them. In addition to this avalanche of scientific opinion, we should also note that Reiche, like von Daniken, has failed to explain the significance of the animal geoglyphs.

Simone Waisbard - Astronomical Calendar - The drawing of Nasca are a giant astronomical calendar. Further the Nasca-line-system was used to measure the precipitation value. Figures, especially seabirds, have a connection to the meteorological prophecy system of the Nasca-Culture. Her ideas for the trapezoid formations: places for holy animals before sacrifice them, or field claims connected with filter galleries, observatories or places for ritual ceremonies of the different clans.

Erich von Däniken - Long time ago visitors from other stars visited the Earth. They landed at Nasca. During the landing stones was blown away by the power of rocket propulsion. By approaching more the power was increasing and the cleaned band broader. In this way the first trapezes emerged. Later the Aliens disappeared and left confused people. Like in the modern cargo cults they tried to call the Gods back by drawing lines, figures and trapezes. He discovered the GGF/Mandala/Zodiac and the mirror - Formation and compares them with modern VASIS or PAPI-Signs.

Alan F. Alford - Negroid Slaves - the Nasca-Lines was made by Negroid Slaves of the Tihuanaco Culture. After a revolution the Negroid population destroyed some figure, this is the explanation for overdrawn zigzag-formations. Later this people went in northern direction and founded Chavin and the Olmec culture.

Robert Bast - A memory of the Deluge - The animal, plant and human-shaped figures are lying together on the ground. So it could be a memorial place of the big flood. Many cultures of our world know deluge-myths, you can find a couple of them at his Side.

Gilbert de Jong - A Nascan Zodiac was himself in Nasca and measured the GGF by GPS. He obtained a length of the square side of about 54,7 Meter. In the formation he recognized a Zodiac.

Robin Edgar -the Nasca-Figures were inspired by, and intended to be seen by, the (so-called) Eye of God that is manifested during total solar eclipses. An extraordinary series of solar eclipses coincided with the construction of the Nasca lines. Some Lines are aligned with the winter solstice, a less spectacular but more regular, death and rebirth of the Sun God.

Michael Coe - Ceremonial Places - believes the Nasca Lines are sacred paths to walk by specific rites. But primary the lines was a offering for elders,heaven- and mountain-deities who spent water for fields.
Siegfried Waxmann recognized a culture atlas of the human history in the Nasca-line-system.
Archaeologist Frederico Kauffmann-Doig - the Nasca Lines are magic lines which origin from the cat cult in Chavin de Huantar.
Georg A. von Breunig believes the Nasca Lines were used for sprinting to honor especial gods or ritual competitions. This theory was supported by the professor Hoimar von Ditfurth.
Markus Reindel - Dowsing - The Nasca-Figures are markers for subterranean waterflow. Trapezoides show the broadness of the waterstream, zigzaglines show where they end, lines show into direction of the puquitos. Reindel sympatizes with Johnsons Theory, additionally he explain the nature of the figures by rod-dowsing (to find the subterranean water) and shamanstic flights (to overview the figures).
Hermann E. Bossi - The Nasca-Code - based on a formation called the GGF, Mandala or Zodiac that was discovered by Erich von Däniken 1995. This formation include a plenty of different combination possibilities and include information about the Star HD 42807 at different times and it's planet. Other formations like the monkey seems to be of this code too. The same code is to find in other places like Stonehenge, Avebury and Borobudur, but also by Crop Circles.
The Code of Carl Munck: The Ancient Geomatria of Numbers - - The Nasca Line ground markings locate themselves on The Code Matrix system. - Nasca Lines and Archaeocryptography
The ancient sites around the world are very precisely positioned on a global coordinate system in relation to the position of the Great Pyramid at Giza. The positions of the sites are given in the geometry of their construction. A very ancient system of numbers was used in the system, which we will call Gematria.
Gematrian numbers are found in ancient myths and religions, including the Bible. Gematrian numbers were used in systems of weights and measures by ancient peoples, including the Greeks, the Egyptians, the Persians, the Babylonians and the Romans.
The Code system uses mathematical constants, such as pi and the radian. The system also uses conventions that are still in use, such as the 360 degree circle, 60 minute degree, 60 second minute, the base-ten numbering system, the 12-inch foot, and the 5280-foot mile.
The ancient Mayans used Gematrian numbers in their very accurate timekeeping.
The Nasca Line ground markings "locate themselves" on The Code Matrix System.
Professor Helmut Tributsch - Fata Morgana -important cult places like Stonehenge, the Pyramids and naturally Nasca were built on places where often the Fata Morgana - Phenomena occurs. In this way People could see the Fata Morgana of the Nasca-Lines.
Jiri Mruzek - The Seal of Atlantis Complete complex solution of the monkey's figure. It involves geometrical code, which speaks of specific aspects of analytical geometry. This code coincides with the code of prehistorical La Marche, France.
John D. Miller - 177 Feet - analyzes different buildings worldwide. So he found in ancient buildings and old cathedrals often the value of 177 feet. His theories are based on several holy numbers and units, so he believes that there is a deeper importance within.
Thomas Wick - A plan of a Cathedral - private researcher of ancient mysteries. When he saw the figure of the GGF, he recognized the ground principals of a cathedral.
Professor Henri Stierlin - loom - the Nasca-Indians used the line-system as loom. In the paracas-culture was made textiles witch was made of one string. But the Indians hadn't wheels and looms, so they organized hundreds of men who held the string. Their position was defined by the lines.
Dr. Zoltan Zelko - Map - Hungarian mathematician who analyzed the Nasca-line-system and compared with other ancient places in Peru. Nasca could be a map of a 100 x 800 kilometer including region around the Titicaca-Lake.
Prof. Helaine Siverman - Clan Signs - the figures are clan signs of different Indian clans in the region of Nasca.
Prof. Dr. Aldon Mason - Signs for Gods - The main interest of Mason are the tombs and the deformation of skulls of the Nasca-Culture. Nasca Lines are Signs for Gods in the Sky.
William H. Isbell - Provision of Work - the kings of Nasca ordered the drawing of the Nasca-lines to control the population. When they did work they couldn't make children at the same time. Why this? Isbell has the idea the Nasca-Indians wasn't able to store field fruits, so in good years the population were increasing to strong.
Albrecht Kottmann divided the figures into different parts and analyzed them in a geometrical way. So he divided a bird of 286 Meter length into 22 Parts. He found that the head takes two parts, the neck five parts, the body three parts and the other twelve parts for the beak.The proportion between the beak and the rest is 6:5. He believes the geometric signs are a picture writing system with giant and small letters.
Ley Lines - Paul Devereux

From Ellie - The Nasca Lines are another stone marker in the geological blueprint of our reality. As one quests for answers to the hidden mysteries of our creation - one must look above and below to determine the past, present and future.
There is something to said be said for each of the theoires above, for in truth each has a certain degree of validity. Finding answers once again becomes a game in which all roads lead back to the 'Eye' - the creational source of all things. In Egypt it was the Eye of Ra - The Eye of God.
I have always believed that all of creation is part of a geometric blueprint that repeats in cycles of time created by the same consciousness. Stone markers are placed in power points around the planet - as they are places humans are drawn to explore. The markers link together - and to the universal game board - based on creational geometry.
The clues are all universal - the flower of life - gods from the skies - spirals of consciousness - humans - animals - candles=sacred flame - birds=ascension back to the heavens. The archetypes - metaphors and symbols are all the same as those found in the myths and legends of our little experience called 3D.
The more one studies the more one realizes that one soul played the roles of all of the gods - left all of the markers - all of which speak of time when the eye - eclipse - light will appear in the heavens once again. It will appear 'out of the blue' - midnight blue.
At this time - humanity will remove its consciousness from the 3D grid of and spiral through the 'stargate' of higher light. That time is almost here. we sense it, feel it, know it to be true or else we would not be here questing for answers.

On the pampa, south of the Nasca Lines, archaeologists have now uncovered the lost city of the line-builders, Cahuachi. It was built nearly two thousand years ago and was mysteriously abandoned 500 years later. New discoveries at Cahuachi are at last beginning to give us insight into the Nasca people and to unravel the mystery of the Nasca Lines.

Cahuachi is emerging as a treasure trove of the Nascan culture. As Orefici and his team excavate, discoveries of paintings on preserved pottery, and the ancient technique of weaving that the Nasca people developed, have given an insight into how the lines may have been made, and what they might have been used for, more than 1500 years ago.

Most exciting is the discovery of human remains. Stunningly preserved in the dry soil of the Peruvian desert are the mummified bodies of the Nascan people themselves.

Originally believed to have been a military stronghold, Cahuachi is now reckoned to be a place of ritual and ceremony, and Orefici's stunning new evidence confirms this idea. Cahuachi is now revealed to have been abandoned after a series of natural disasters destroyed the city. But before they left it, the Nascan people covered the city in the arid pampa sand where, until recently, it has remained a barely visible mound in the desert.

It is difficult to keep the Nasca Lines free from outside intervention. As with all ancient ruins, such as Machu Piccu, weather by wind and rain, and human tampering will take their toll on these ancient Lines.

In recent years the Nasca Lines have suffered gradual destruction, as tomb raiders seeking pre-Inca artifacts scar the terrain with hundreds of burrows, garbage, among other waste material. A boom in copper and gold mining - including a mine built in 1997 a few feet from a 2,000-year-old, two-mile-long trapezoid -- is defacing parts of the Nasca Lines with tracks from truck traffic.

Over the past decade, advertisers and political campaigns have carved huge messages in the rock and sand between the ancient designs in this region 250 miles south of Lima.

In 1998, floods and mudslides from the El Nino weather pattern seriously eroded several figures.

As electricity reaches the growing local population, utility companies are running power cables over and around the site.

The damage to the Lines underscores Peru's desperate struggle to preserve its national patrimony. Archaeologists say they are watching helplessly as the quest for scholarship and conservation in a country viewed as the cradle of New World civilization is losing out to commercial interests, bleak poverty and the growing popularity of heritage sites as tourist attractions.

from: http://www.crystalinks.com/nasca.html

Las líneas de Nasca

SITUACIÓN:

Nasca es un pueblo de Perú, situado al sur de Lima, por la carretera de la costa son 431 km. Por la Panamericana un poco más.

Está en la provincia de ICA.

La Capital, ICA, está a 297 kilómetros al sur de Lima.

Es un pueblo que se ha hecho famoso porque en la Pampa en casi 50 Km de longitud y 15 de ancho hay unos dibujos pintados en la tierra, conocidos como “líneas de Nasca”, consideradas por la Unesco “Patrimonio Cultural de la Humanidad" desde 1994.

Los dibujos son líneas que se extienden varios kilómetros, rectángulos, ...; pero lo que más llama la atención son treinta figuras (geoglifos) que representan animales tanto marinos como terrestres y figuras geométricas y humanas.

Son una figuras enormes, por ejemplo hay un pájaro de 300 m de largo; una lagarto de 180, un pelícano de 135, un un cóndor y un mono también de 135m, y una araña de 42 metros.

En 1961 el famoso libro “El Retorno de los Brujos” las atribuyó un origen extraterrestre; según ellos, eran pistas de aterrizaje para platillos volantes. Después hizo otro tanto el autor francés Robert Charroux que probablemente inspirase al escritor suizo Eric Von Daniken., aunque él siempre lo ha negado.

En una zona desértica

Las líneas están a 50 km de la costa del Pacífico. Es una zona muy desértica debido a varias razones. La primera es que el agua del mar que sal en esa zona es fría, por lo que no lleva agua: es lo mismo que ocurre en el Sahara, Agua fría no lleva agua: desierto.

Además, antes de llegar a Nasca hay una primera cordillera que produce el llamado efecto Foehn, que consiste en que el agua húmeda del mar, llega a una montaña (en este caso la cordillera entre Nasca y el Pacífico). El agua, sube por la cordillera, el aire se enfría y desprende toda el agua; pero lo desprende en la ladera que da al Pacífico. A Nasca ya no llega agua.

La verdad es que es un tierra tremendamente fértil. Recuerdo que fui hasta Nasca en autobús de línea y que paramos en el valle de Palpa. Allí se veían naranjales espléndidos. Desierto en lo no regado y una vegetación feraz donde llegaba el agua (irrigaciones). Las naranjas eran estupendas, ¿o era que tenía una sed de muerte? Paramos bastante tiempo en ICA, además de que volvimos a la semana siguiente, en Pisco hay Pico, un “Pisco Sour” de muerte. Pero esa vuelve a ser otra historia.

Eso mismo ocurre en todos los Andes; por ejemplo, el desierto más desértico del mundo está un poco al sur de Nasca, es el desierto de Atacama, donde –dicho sea de paso-- se me quedó atrapado el Jeep en el que iba en la pampa... “se nos hizo de noche. A lo lejos ladraban los perros...”pero esa es otra historia.

Concretamente en Nasca llueve menos de media hora cada dos años. Esto es importante porque explica la conservación de los dibujos. No se mojan.

Aunque allí soplan fuertes vientos que destrozarían los dibujos sino fuera porque el color oscuro de las piedras y arena hace que se forme una capa de aire caliente, que impide que el viento arrastre la arena.

¿Cómo están hechas las figuras?

El suelo de Nasca es muy pedregoso y la arena es de color marrón... PERO.
PERO:
El Sol pega tan fuerte que las piedras y la arena están oxidadas en su cara superior, en la que da al Sol, pero son claras en su cara inferior. Lo mismo ocurre con la arena, la primera capa es marrón oscura pero luego es amarilla.

Para hacer las figuras los que las hicieron (luego comentamos más sobre ello; fueron los indios Nascas y Paracas) procedieron de un modo sencillo:

En los terrenos pedregosos dieron las vueltas a las piedras, de ese modo mostraban su “panza” clara.

En los campos de arena, quitaron la primera capa, los dibujos más profundos son de 30 cm; pero la mayoría de ellos es mucho menor.

Recuerdo que cuando estuve viéndolas, hace muchos años, había pasado una moto y había dejado sus huellas durante años.

La duda más grande estriba en saber cómo hicieron figuras de 300 m de largo. Sin duda, desde el suelo no se ve toda entera.

No se sabe con exactitud pero hipótesis hay muchas, la más probable es que usaran una cuadrícula. Dibujaban la imagen en pequeño, con cuadros y luego la repetían en grande.

Se ha hecho una simulación y funciona perfectamente y de un modo rápido.

¿De cuándo son?

No hay forma de hacer una datación absoluta. El carbono 14 no sirve pues no son restos orgánicos; pero todo apunta a que se hicieron en torno al año 1000 de nuestra época.


¿Quiénes las hicieron?

Al sur de Pisco hay una bahía, la Bahía de Paracas, en la que hay un famoso “candelabro”; pero ... también es una historia para otro día.



En Paracas se han encontrado restos de una importante cultura precolombina. La cultura de Paracas. Entre otras cosas tienen vasijas de barro y tapices, cuyos dibujos son muy similares a las figuras de Nasca. Lo mismo ocurre con la cerámica y los tejidos de Nasca.

Es decir, las figuras que se reproducen en el suelo no surgen de la nada, forman parte de una cultura ampliamente difundida en la zona.

Los Acueductos son de la cultura Nasca de siglo VI y están en los valles de Nasca, Taruga y las Trancas. Son galerías filtrantes construidas con paredes de canto rodado y techos de laja de piedra o troncos de un árbol llamado huarango. Las galerias en muchos casos son de varios kilómetros de longitud y van enterradas a bastatnte profundidas, en algunos casos hasta 12 metros.


¿Cuándo se descubrieron?

Los libros citados más arriba dicen que el descubrimiento se debe a un aviador peruano que en 1927 voló por encima de las figuras y que las vio por primera vez.

Las descubrieron desde el aire por tanto –arguyen-- las tuvieron que hacer con ayuda de aviones... o de extraterrestres.

La verdad es muy otra, Pedro Cieza de León, un soldado que participó en la conquista, escribió un diario que terminó en 1550. En él, al llegar a la zona de Paracas describe las figuras que hay en Nasca. La obra se titulaba “Crónicas del Perú”.


OTRA HISTORIA: En sus “Crónicas del Peru” menciona por primera vez a la patata.

Desde luego no las vio desde ningún avión, ¿o sí? “Líneas Aéreas el Conquistador”... :-)

Los pilotos informaron al arqueólogo Mejía Xespe, pero no las dio ninguna importancia.

En ese mismo año llegó al Perú el investigador Paul Kosok quien se mostró muy interesado... limpió los trazos... y descubrió uno de los pájaros (desde tierra).. En 1940 volvió a su país. El decía que aquel era “El Libro de Astronomía mas Grande del Mundo”.

En sus investigaciones le había asistido Maria Reiche (matemático) a la que aconsejó seguir las investigaciones. Y así lo hizo.

Yo la conocí muy mayor, ya casi ciega; pero allí seguía contando sus aventuras a quien se las quería escuchar.

Ella defendía que las líneas mostraban alineaciones con ciertas estrellas.

Los estudios posteriors demuestran que no es así. Hay tantas rayas que “por narices” alguna tiene que apuntar a alguna estrella. Muchas rayas y mucho tiempo para ponerlas... Pues no se fijaba cuándo se habían hecho y las estrellas varían.

Hoy en día nadie cree que Maria Reiche llevara razón. Murió hace unos pocos años.

Hipótesis del telar

Hubo un americanista llamado Henri Stierling que planteó una curiosa hipótesis: que eran telares.

En su día aquella hipótesis me gustó. Encajaba muy bien en la cultura de la zona. Pero ha resultado que no es cierta.

Hipótesis actual

Los antropólogos han recurrido a los actuales habitantes de la cordillera de los Andes que todavía hoy en día celebran peregrinaciones a los montes y siguen senderos rituales y caminos rituales. (Gracias Gabriel por prestarme aquel libro, que copraste en Cuzco, ¿me lo prestaste, entonces qué hace en mi estanteria?)

La conclusión es que, quizá nunca sepamos con exactitud su función, pero casi con seguridad estaban relacionados con ritos de viaje al monte: los dioses vivían en los montes, y un detalle importante: en aquella zona hay excavados importantes canales para llevar agua, hay grandes canalizaciones y sacaban el agua de acuíferos. Es muy posible que los ritos estuvieran ligados con el regadio.

Es muy posible que nunca sepamos con exactitud su función precisa. Pero eso no debe desesperarnos.

Lo que si sabemos es lo que no son: no son pistas de aterrizaje para platillos volantes, como defiende Eric Von Daniken, ni han sido construidos por una civilización superior como insinúan otros. Han sido construidos por los indios de la zona, con los medios de su época y sus dibujos están imbricados en la cultura de la zona.
 

PD. En ICA (Nasca está en la provincia de ICA) hay un famoso museo de piedras, donde hay dibujos que describen imágenes del mundo. Hay un mapa de America, hay dinosaurios y hay una operación de trasplante de corazón.

Eso, para muchos vendedores de lo insólito, es la prueba de que se trata de piedras hechas por seres no humanos.

Al salir de Nasca necesitaba un Taxi para ir hasta Paracas, a un hotelito estupendo. A propósito, tengo que volver. Lo busqué. Nos vino un indio. Al pasar por la carretera Panamericana, muy cerca de una de las huellas, nos pidió permiso para parar y hablar con el sobrino.

Allí estaba el sobrino, tallando “piedras de ICA”. A lo largo de las muchas horas de viaje hablamos largo y tendido, comimos juntos,...

Y le preguntamos por las piedras del Dr. Cabrera. Al principio se resistió un poco; luego le preguntamos por las que estaba haciendo su sobrino... Y por fin nos dijo que las piedras del Dr. Cabrera las hacía su familia. Que le habían dicho a Cabrera que eran ellos los autores; pero Cabrera no quiso creerles.

-¿Y cómo es que en las imágenes del dinosaurio? Porque somos indios no tontos. Lo copié de una enciclopedia.

-¿Y el trasplante de corazón? No hay tal, es un sacrificio ritual en el que sacan el corazón de la víctima.

-¿Y...?

Son indios, no idiotas. Lo que ya no tengo tan claro es si los “blancos” han sido engañados inocentemente o no.
 

from: http://ciencia15.blogalia.com/historias/1707