Nazca Lines

ancient art · Peru · mystery · archaeology

Massive desert drawings. The Nazca lines are huge pictures scratched into the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They were made between 500 BC and 500 AD by removing pebbles to expose the different-colored dirt underneath.

Two time periods. Artists made these lines during two main phases: the Paracas phase from 400 to 200 BC, and the longer Nazca phase from 200 BC to 500 AD. Each period had its own style and designs.

Simple but clever technique. The ancient artists didn't need fancy tools. They just made shallow cuts or depressions in the ground and moved pebbles around to reveal the lighter-colored earth below, creating images that stood out against the darker desert.

Visible from above only. These drawings are so enormous that you can't see what they really show if you're standing on the ground. You need to view them from high up in the sky to recognize the full pictures.

Recently rediscovered treasures. In the 21st century, archaeologists used drones to find several hundred new Nazca lines that had been hidden for centuries. Experts think many more undiscovered figures are still waiting beneath the desert sand.