Lignes et Géoglyphes au Nasca et Palpa

Photo : David Tollemer (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Located on the arid plateau of southern Peru, this archaeological site encompasses a series of ancient geoglyphs and lines etched into the desert surface across the Nasca and Palpa regions. Created by pre-Columbian cultures between approximately 500 BCE and 500 CE, these figures range from geometric patterns and lines to representations of animals and plants, some extending several hundred meters across the landscape. The site demonstrates sophisticated knowledge of land surveying and astronomical orientation, with the lines potentially serving ritual, astronomical, or agricultural functions. The extreme aridity of the region has preserved these earthworks with remarkable clarity, making them visible primarily from aerial perspectives. This cultural property documents important aspects of Andean pre-Hispanic societies and their relationship with the natural environment, representing a significant achievement in ancient Peruvian archaeology.