Literature Review #3

                        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 correlation between subterranean water sources and the geoglyphs.  

    Donald Proulx as pictured above, was a Professor of Anthropology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. The Nazca Lines Project was not the first time that Proulx was immersed in the Peruvian culture however. His research primarily centered on Peruvian archaeology, especially the Nazca Culture and has spent over 50 years studying the iconography on Nazca pottery. This background knowledge definitely contributed to Johnson's study and more than likely gave other collaborators a look into the Nazcan culture. While Proulx was not accustomed to geology or the derivation of water sources from the Nazcan plain, his knowledge concerning Peruvian culture and archaeological expertise allowed the team to gain some headway into validating Johnson's proposal. Not to mention, he earned a Ph.d. in Anthropology at the University of California, Berkley. 

Quotes:

"Many theories have been proposed to explain the function of the lines, but none of these connected the geoglyphs to subsurface water flow and to structural geology and hydrology" (Proulx 2). 

"...the ancient occupants of the valley had secondary sources of water that allowed them to survive during the many months where no water flowed from the mountains and during times of drought. This water was obtained from springs, seeps, and tapping into the water table with a system of wells and canals known as puquios" (Proulx 9). 

"Slowly we are getting a better understanding of the role of water by ancient societies in this area, its varied sources, how they obtained it, and how the geoglyphs might be part of the equation" (Proulx 10). 

Key terms: 

1. biomorphs: a decorative form or object based on or resembling a living organism (birds, plants, and mammals)

2. dousing: To use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals.

This article is important because it discusses the background on how Donald Proulx, Stephen Mabee, and David Johnson teamed up. It also discusses the archaeological, geological, and hydrological pieces of evidence that contribute to the ancient water systems that the Nazcan people are believed to have made. 

Citation:

Proulx, Donald A. “The Nasca Lines Project (1996-2000).” Nasca Lines Project, people.umass.edu/~proulx/Nasca_Lines_Project.html.

Link to article: https://people.umass.edu/~proulx/Nasca_Lines_Project.html