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Final Paper Abstract and Works Cited

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Final abstract for my research paper: This research investigates the meaning and purpose behind the giant collection of geoglyphs and biomorphs located in southern Peru more popularly known as the Nazca Lines. It analyzes the geographical, archaeological and historical evidence gathered by scientists to support the theory that the lines were created to locate water sources buried deep within the desert. The paper sheds light on the social and spiritual life of the ancient cultures of the Nazca Valley revealing them to be a sophisticated civilization capable of creating an intricate water map on a 1:1 scale. It also discusses the opposing viewpoints of scientists whose research suggests the lines were created for astronomical purposes, ritualistic endeavors and landing strips for alien spacecrafts.                                              Works Cited Däniken, Erich von, and Michael Heron. Chariots of the Gods . Berkley, 2018.  Foerster, Brien. Nazca: Decoding the Riddle of the Lines
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Extra Credit: World of Mysteries-Crop Circles and Desert Lines

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                                   EXTRA CREDIT DOCUMENTARY:                                                               Available to watch for free on Youtube :)     For my extra credit assignment, I decided to watch World of Mysteries- Crop Circles and Desert Lines posted by Naked Science on youtube (I have inserted the video above for anyone interested in watching the 50 minute documentary). One way I can utilize this documentary in my own research is to further refute Von Daniken's theory concerning the Nazca lines. A quote that I could add to my paper is: "Von Daniken's runways have been found to come in all shapes and sizes. Few people  believe that a landing spacecraft could have created shapes like these" (Naked Science). Within the documentary, they also discuss the theories behind the Nazca Lines and some geological and archaeological information that are important to the region. 
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Literature Review 5

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THE CORRELATION BETWEEN GEOGLYPHS AND SUBTERRANEAN WATER RESOURCES IN THE RIO GRANDE DE NAZCA DRAINAGE: LITERATURE REVIEW  Map of the Rio Grande De Nazca Drainage in Peru      For my final literature review, I selected a chapter from a book written by David Johnson, Donald Proulx, and Stephen Mabee titled  The Correlation Between Geoglyphs and Subterranean Water Resources in the Rio Grande de Nazca Drainage (Chapter 10).   In this article, they detailed the investigative methods used at five different sites to compare and contrast their findings. Included in the chapter is a detailed analysis of the study and statistical data of the Pampa de San Jose near Nazca.  In the study they applied standard hyrdogeological, geological, and geophysical techniques in addition to archaeological methods to either support or refute Johnson's hypothesis.       The authors of this chapter, Stephen Mabee, Donald Proulx, and David Johnson, are expert researchers and lead investigators of the research
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Argument and Counterargument

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                      ARGUMENT AND COUNTERARGUMENT  My argument for my research paper is as follows:  Regardless of differing philosophies, geographical, archaeological, and historical factors demonstrate that the need to source water in the desert plain influenced ancient man’s creation of the Nazca Lines. Similar to a modern day utility map, the Nazca people created a 1:1 map onto the landscape in an effort to mark and trace the location of subterranean water. Erich Von Daniken however, presents an opposing theory in his book, Chariots of the Gods , where he proposed that the Nazca Lines were the runways of an ancient airfield for extraterrestrial beings who have been visiting the Earth since the dawn of time influencing, and quite possibly directing, humanity in the creation of geometrical lines and dwellings. Von Daniken hypothesized that the enormous drawings found on mountainsides in many parts of Peru were “undoubtedly meant as signals for a being floating in the air” (Von Danik
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Case

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                                                            Case study My main case focuses on David Johnson's study of water resources in Peru with a team of geologists and archaeologists who scientifically tested his theory. Johnson was most notably joined by geologist Stephen Mabee and principal archaeologist Donald Proulx as they secured funding from the National Geographic Society for his research on water in the late 90's. The main goal of their research was to obtain scientific evidence to prove: "1. Faults and alluvial gravels intersect the valleys and often conduct water through aquifers (concentrated zones of higher permeability deposits capable of conveying groundwater), 2. Aquifers supply water to the puquios through these alluvial gravels including geological faults, and 3. Geoglyphs map the course of the aquifers" (Proulx 6).  Additionally, five sites within the Rio Grande de Nazca drainage were studied to determine their relationship between groundwater
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Theoretical Frame

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                                        THEORETICAL FRAME                                                                     Map of the Nazca Valley in Peru       The theoretical frame for my paper is David Johnson's theory that the Nazca lines represent a 1 mile by 1 mile map of subterranean water resources. This will help me to explain that  Johnson made the discovery that there was a correlation between water resources and nearby archaeological sites on the desert plain (Proulx). He noted the width, depth and boundaries of the flow and found that the lines consistently mapped the source and course of aquifers. 
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Literature Review 4

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                              NAZCA: DECODING THE RIDDLE OF THE LINES. TRAVELER'S EDITION:                                                                                  LITERATURE REVIEW        For my fourth literature review, I wanted to analyze Brien Foerster's book Nazca: Decoding The Riddle of The Lines. Traveler's Edition. He created the book to provide the reader with a detailed account of the creation of the Nazca lines, the people who made them, and the multiple theories that attempt to explain why they were created. In doing so, his hope was that the reader would ponder all the possibilities and formulate their own opinions. Additionally, he used logic, archaeology, anthropology, and native oral traditions to explain the history of Nazcan culture and water resources. Foerster discusses the different cultures who lived on the Pampa, the time span of their existence, their religious beliefs, lifestyle and art. One culture in particular that he mentioned were the P
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