Theoretical Frame

                                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. 

    One of the main sources that I will be utilizing to frame my paper is Donald Proulx's article The Nasca Lines Project (1996-2000). Proulx noted that “These observations led to a new working hypothesis for the function of the Nasca lines that was different from any previous idea: geological faults and alluvial gravels provide pathways for ground water flow, and they transmit water as a zone of concentrated flow into the valleys“ (Proulx). Additionally he claims that, 
“The ancient people realized they could find a reliable source of fresh water at these locations and that is where they established their habitation sites. Johnson claims the ancient Nasca marked the flow of subterranean water with geoglyphs. He argued that there are five factors that are consistently found together: geological faults and/or higher permeability sands and gravels with the alluvial fans, archaeological sites, an aquifer, a source of fresh water (spring, seep, puquio, or well), and the geoglyphs that mark their location. Where one or more of these features are found there is a high probability the others are present” (Prolux).

By providing evidence about water resources, I will be able to develop my argument in a synthetic fashion. 

Citation:

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



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