Otherways- Fiction Fanatics

One of the more popular archaeological sites often used as evidence that aliens visited earth are the Nazca lines. If you aren't familiar with these, they are a series of enormous line drawings known to scientists as geoglyphs. Literally, a geoglyph is an earth drawing, where the medium for the art is the earth itself, but specifically in the same style as a drawing or painting. So Mount Rushmore, although on a grand scale, is not a geoglyph, while the giant line art drawings in Peru are. 

People who see the Nazca lines as evidence of alien visitation argue that the drawings are so big they couldn't have been intended to be viewed from the ground. In that much at least, they are quite correct. From the ground all that is visible is a series of thick lines where the upper layer of red stone and pebbles have been cleared away, leaving the underlying white/gray stone exposed. In my yard, such an act would last just a couple of months before leaf litter, rain and livestock obliterated the images. It is believed that these geoglyphs were made between 400 and 650 AD. Although currently at risk from increased human "squatting" in the region, these works of art have been largely naturally preserved by the arid climate that exists on their plateau.

Since the figures are primarily common earthly animals of the region, like spiders, birds, sharks and llamas, or recognizable plants, it seems unlikely that they were meant to attract alien attention. It is far more likely that the lines have a religious significance, especially given that they are grouped in three sets, along the main pathways to Cahuatchi Temple, located at an even higher elevation. Recently, according to Archaeology magazine, researchers from Yamagata University in Japan led by Masoto Sakai have been exploring the unique history of the lines. Their research seems to indicate that the lines were made by two distinct groups of people living in Peru's desert at the time. The team has studied a hundred of the symbols, and identified four distinct styles. It also seems that, like many things, the importance and use of the lines may well have changed over time.

Whatever the history, the present finds Yamagata University teaming up with Peru's Minister of Culture, Diane Alvarez Calderon to work on preserving and researching these unique geoglyphs.

I don't suppose any of this actually rules out the theory that aliens were somehow involved. I mean, there are more logical, grounded, and probably more accurate explanations out there. But the desire to not be alone and abandoned in the cold universe is pretty universal. Perhaps the Nazca people used these symbols to spiritually link themselves to their creator through religion, as seems likely. Or maybe there really was a physical link to a very real extra-terrestrial prescence. I'm a writer, I refuse to rule out the possibility of the bizarre and amazing, even if it isn't all that likely. Either way, I believe the motivation that produced the art is the same: hope.

Cheers,

Michelle