|
  Palpa Valley & The Llipata Figures |
|
|
Palpa Ica Peru |
|
|
|
 Continue Your Exploration |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Human and animal likenesses, a knife,
and a sundial are among the "geoglyphs," or giant
figures etched into the earth and discernible from the
sky, most recently discovered in the Peruvian desert.
Peruvian archaeologist Johny Islas and German
colleague Markus Reindel have identified new etchings
made by the ancient Nasca people in the desert valleys
of Palpa, about 460 kilometers (290 miles) south of
Lima.
After five years of work, the scientists were able to
identify more than 1,000 new geoglyphs.
The Nasca, whose culture flourished from around 200
B.C. to the middle of the seventh century A.D., made
many of their etchings near the city of Nazca.
But the glyphs identified by the two archaeologists
in Palpa, 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of the city,
predate the geoglyphs previously discovered and appear
to mark the beginning of that civilization.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why So Many Photos? |
|
The
goal of our website is to present multiple
views of each symbol for three reasons:
1) the lines are extremely difficult to
photograph due to lighting conditions and
the condition of the geoglyph itself,
2) to provide better context of
the symbol, showing some of its surrounding area,
and
3) because different views provide a
better understanding of the style of design
and perhaps a greater appreciation of the
genius of the constructors.
more science
» |
|
|
|
|
Thanks to aerial photographs, the researchers were
able to identify 650 archaeological sites as well as
thousands of geoglyphs, petroglyphs, and cemeteries left
by the Nasca people.
Islas and Reindel also found planks with etchings
similar to the enormous drawings previously discovered
in the desert sands.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 
|
|
The Palpa
(Llipata) Sun God or An Old Man On A
Cane? |
|
|
|
The geoglyphs in the Palpa valley provide evidence
that a new culture emerged in the region near the start
of the Christian era, bringing with it new methods of
building settlements and a new ideology.
The etchings in the desert make up a sacred landscape
honoring water and fertility.
The cultural changes evident from the geoglyphs have
also been noted by scientists studying the more than 600
archaeological sites in the region
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Palpa & Llipata Symbol Locations: |
|
|
|
|
