The water system of Nazca

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 C...

                                   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 ...

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, ...

                      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...

                                                            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 cours...

                                        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. 

                              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. Additi...

Research Blog #6:       An important aspect of my project are the factors that have supported David Johnson's theory of the Nazca Lines. The attached image of a puquios (involved in the hydraulic system of the Nazcan's) is a piece of evidence to explain the geographical factors that can be attributed to the development of Johnson's theory. Puquios are an ancient system of subterranean aqueducts that allowed the Nazca people the ability to distribute water while living in a desert. These tunnels connect subsurface water with the source, often from mountains, and is believed to be connected to the lines. The explanation and purpose of puquios which will be mentioned in further detail in my research paper, will allow me to prove Johnson's theory that the Nazca Lines represent a map of water sources underneath the desert plain.  Additionally, I will utilize this image in my oral presentation as I reveal how important and essential the puquois are in ensuring that th...

Research Blog #5 After a helpful meeting with Professor Goeller, I revised the direction of my paper along with my research question which is shown below:  { What geographical, archaeological, and historical factors predict whether Nazcan civilizations constructed the Nazca Lines to represent a 1:1 map in order to find subterranean water sources, and how can these commonalities be used to support the syntheses of David Johnson and collaborators to uncover the purpose of the world’s most mysterious geoglyphs? }                                                               David Johnson pictured in Nazca.                                             ...

                             THE NASCA LINES PROJECT (1996-2000): LITERATURE REVIEW            For my third literature review, I chose to analyze an article by Donald Proulx who was the lead archaeologist working alongside Johnson during his time in Peru. In the article The Nasca Lines Project (1996-2000) , Proulx offers background information on how they initiated the investigation. He also delves into testing Johnson's hypothesis and provides the results of the study however, the theory is still being considered. Proulx, along with a team of geologists including Stephen Mabee, Hillary Barber and Rick Ponti, took the first steps to scientifically test David Johnson's hypothesis. They performed 6 standard geological, hydrological, and archaeological investigations along with others to determine whether there was a corre...

BENEATH THE NASCA LINES AND OTHER COASTAL GEOGLYPHS OF PERU AND CHILE:                   LITERATURE REVIEW                                                                          David Johnson pictured  above      For my second literature review, I chose to focus on an excerpt from a book written by David Johnson, the chief researcher of an interdisciplinary team of geologists and archaeologists funded by National Geographic that tested his hypothesis to find underground water sources underneath the Nazcan plains. In this book titled Beneath The Nasca Lines and Other Coastal Geoglyphs of Peru and Chile, David Johnson discusses his research and discoveries into locating su...

CHARIOTS OF THE GODS: LITERATURE REVIEW       For my first literature review, I decided to focus on literature that would supply a counterargument to my main thesis. The book Chariots of the Gods by Erich Von Daniken proposed a rather interesting theory concerning a paranormal explanation for the lines that was completely different than David Johnson's hypothesis, which is the main focus of my research paper. Von Daniken insists that the Nazca Lines served as runways of ancient airfields for extraterrestrial beings. He continued his argument by mentioning that the drawings found on mountainsides in multiple parts of Peru were meant as signals for extraterrestrial beings in the air. He denies the creativity and ability of ancient peoples to construct such an elaborate design without the help of "flying beings".  However, Von Daniken's theory is simply that, just a theory. His proposal is filled with inconsistencies and does not provide factual evidence to support...