Updated Research Proposal

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                                                David Johnson and associates in Peru


Working Title: The Water Lines of Nazca 

Topic Description: 

It has been speculated that the creation of the Nazca Lines can be linked to extraterrestrial beings and advanced technology. However, this notion has been widely rejected by speculators and critics who argue that the work and intelligence of Nasca civilization is being discredited. Instead, a more promising consensus discovered by David Johnson, a high school teacher from New York, investigates the Nazca region of Southern Peru in order to solve one of the world’s biggest archaeological mysteries. Johnson argues that the creation of the Nazca Lines is not attributed to extraterrestrial beings but rather served as a map for the Nazcans to find water resources. The design of the geoglyphs provided meaning and direction for Nasca civilization.


Research Question: 

What geographical, archaeological, and historical factors predict whether Nascan civilizations constructed the Nazca Lines, and how can these commonalities be used to support the syntheses of David Johnson and associates to uncover the purpose of the world’s most mysterious geoglyphs


Theoretical Frame(s): 

I will most likely choose the critical writing approach and explore both sides of this myth. By discussing two different points of view, it will help to further support my claim because I will be able to disprove other notions concerning this topic and will therefore strengthen my argument. I hope to gain more insight from the readings and be able to understand the process and motivation behind the creation of these geoglpyhs.


Case(s) or Examples: 


The main book that I will be using for my research paper will be Chariots of the Gods written by Erich von Däniken. This book captured my attention because he believes that the Incas did not construct the Nazca Lines on their own. Much like the Pyramids and Stonehenge, von Daniken says that it was almost impossible for the Incas to create these geoglyphs on their own. He mentions that aliens are connected to a handful of ancient artifacts and ruins and that this is the only logical explanation for the existence of these structures considering ancient civilizations did not have the technology to construct such landmarks. It has been argued that the Nazca people would have to be above the ground in order to contrive the lines. This point demonstrates that extraterrestrial beings may have aided the Nazcan people in creating these widely known geoglyphs. However, as mentioned previously, this ideology has been rejected but may serve as an explanation for the increased tourism rate in southern Peru. 

An article by Michael Shermer titled Gods of the Gaps offers a rebuttal on the book Chariots of the Gods and the television show Ancient Aliens. I plan on utilizing this article as a counterargument in order to further defend my claim that aliens did not create the Nazca Lines.  Shermer states that there is not enough positive evidence to prove that aliens had any connection with ancient civilizations and their creations and thus denies the claim altogether.


Working Bibliography:


Conlee, Christina A. “Life in the Nasca Desert.” Beyond the Nasca Lines, University Press of Florida, 2016, doi:10.5744/florida/9780813062020.003.0003.


Däniken, Erich von, and Michael Heron. Chariots of the Gods. Berkley, 2018. 


Lasaponara, Rosa, et al. The Ancient Nasca World : New Insights from Science and Archaeology . Springer, 2016.


McClintock, Jack. "The Nasca Lines Solution." Discover, vol. 21, no. 12, 12, 2000, pp. 74-81. 


Shermer, Michael. Gods of the Gaps. Scientific American. 2013;309(1):92-93. doi:10.1038/scientificamerican0713-92.




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