Over 2000-year old geoglyph found in Nazca desert

Over 2000-year old geoglyph found in Nazca desert

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Photo: ANDINA/Difusión

14:30. Lima, Apr. 27. The recent discovery of a new geoglyph at Pampa de Majuelos in Nazca desert has highlighted the importance of the archaeological site — declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site that depicts figures of animals, objects and anthropomorphic figures that can only be seen with the aid of flight— for the scientific community and tourism sector.

According to the National Geographic website, it is a 30-meter-long figure drawn upon the arid plateaus that would represent an animal with a long tongue, said Masato Sakai, archaeologist of Japan-based Yamagata University, who leads the research along with his Peruvian counterpart Jorge Olano.

The left side of the figure depicts a head with a long tongue, while the right side —which stood out in high relief and has some spots— might reveal the body and legs.

In this sense, Sakai believes the design does not represent a realistic, but an imaginary image.

The geoglyph was created by removing stones and piling them up to form a bas-relief. “This is a characteristic technique of geoglyphs and [the find] may date back to 2000-2500 years ago,” he claimed.

The researcher recalled that other geoglyphs were discovered in the same area back in 2011. The two anthropomorphic figures illustrated a decapitation scene.

“Taking into account there is an ancient path, between the two geoglyphs, heading to the Cahuachi ceremonial site, we might say the figures are linked to a pilgrimage way to such religious place,” he noted.

(END) LZD/MAO/RMB/MVB

Published: 4/27/2016
http://www.andina.com.pe/Ingles/noticia-over-2000year-old-geoglyph-found-in-nazca-desert-610030.aspx