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Nasca Geoglyphs: Technical Aspects and Overview of Studies and Interpretations

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The Ancient Nasca World

Abstract

Archaeologists and scholars have long debated the purpose of the Nasca lines. During the last two decades, significant advances in the understanding of cultural and functional aspects of geoglyphs have been achieved. This chapter deals with the state of the art of studies, research, and field activities in various areas of the Nasca territory. In particular, the technical aspects related to the execution of the geoglyphs and dating issues are discussed. The chapter ends with reprise of the debate on the functions and significance of the Nasca lines from the Spaniard chroniclers to the most recent investigations, oscillating from calendrical/astronomical theories to approaches closer to the Andean model.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    Görsdorf and Reindel (2002) 14C ages with OxCal v 3.5 (Bronk Ramsey 2001) using the IntCal98 calibration curve (Stuiver et al. 1998). The choice of the calibration curve (i.e., with Southern-Hemisphere correction) is a controversial issue. For example, in respect to Görsdorf and Reindel (2002) whose Southern-Hemisphere correction of –24 ± 3 14C yr based on Stuiver et al. (1998), Unkel et al. (2007) used a correction of –41 ± 14 14C yr according McCormac et al. (2002).

  2. 2.

    Eduardo Herran (1953–2015) was a pioneer of aerial archeology for the study and documentation of the Nasca lines. Herran, to whom we owe the discovery of numerous geoglyphs, provided an important contribution to the documentation, promotion, and protection of Nasca-line heritage.

  3. 3.

    The Ceques were lines or rays that originated from the city of Cusco. They were used to indicate the shrines or sacred places and to connect them to Cusco. Most of these lines was associated with ritual pilgrimages.

  4. 4.

    The sampedro(Echinopsis sp.) belongs to the Cactaceae family and was used in the magical rituals by priests in order to contact supernatural entities [see Chap. 6 by Piacenza (2016)].

  5. 5.

    The scientific mission of the German Nasca–Palpa Project was composed of the German Archaeological Institute (DAI, KAAK Bonn), the Institute of Geodesy and Photogrammetry of ETH Zurich, and other partners and archaeologists from Peru and Austria.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council (CNR) - Institute of Archaeological and Monumental Heritage (IBAM), C. da S. Loya, 85050, Tito Scalo, Potenza, Italy

    Nicola Masini

  2. Centro Italiano Studi e Ricerche Archeologiche Precolombiane (CISRAP), via Grazie 6, Brescia, Italy

    Giuseppe Orefici

  3. CEAP, Avenida La Cultura, 600, Nasca, Peru

    Giuseppe Orefici

  4. Calle Callao, 771, Nasca, Ica, Peru

    Josué Lancho Rojas

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  1. Nicola Masini
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  2. Giuseppe Orefici
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Correspondence to Nicola Masini .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Archaeological and Monumental Heritage (IBAM), Potenza, Italy

    Rosa Lasaponara

  2. National Research Council (CNR), Institute of Methodologies for Environmental Analysis (IMAA), Potenza, Italy

    Nicola Masini

  3. Centro Italiano Studi e Ricerche Archeologiche Precolombiane (CISRAP), Brescia, Italy

    Giuseppe Orefici

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Masini, N., Orefici, G., Lancho Rojas, J. (2016). Nasca Geoglyphs: Technical Aspects and Overview of Studies and Interpretations. In: Lasaponara, R., Masini, N., Orefici, G. (eds) The Ancient Nasca World. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47052-8_11

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-47052-8_11

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