B2 First (FCE) Reading Part 6 exercise 2

THE MYSTERY OF THE NAZCA LINES

The Nazca Lines in southern Peru represent one of the world’s greatest archaeological mysteries. Spread across an incredibly arid desert plateau, these massive geoglyphs depict animals, plants, and complex geometric shapes. [ 1 ] In fact, they were largely unknown to the outside world until the 1930s, when commercial airlines finally began flying over the desolate region.

Creating the lines was actually a remarkably simple process. The surface of the desert is covered in dark, iron-oxide-coated pebbles. [ 2 ] Because there is virtually no rain, wind, or erosion in this specific geographic area, the stunning designs have remained largely intact for over two millennia.

The real puzzle for historians and archaeologists, however, is not how they were made, but why. [ 3 ] Some early researchers firmly believed they functioned as a giant astronomical calendar, pointing to where the sun and stars would rise on specific dates.

Later theories proposed that the lines played a critical role in water-related rituals. Water was a precious and rare commodity in the exceptionally dry Nazca environment. [ 4 ] Therefore, scientists theorize that the geoglyphs might have been sacred pathways walked during religious ceremonies pleading with the gods for rain.

In recent years, modern technology has provided fresh insights into the region. Drones and high-resolution satellite imaging have allowed archaeologists to discover dozens of previously hidden figures faded by time. [ 5 ] This important finding suggests that the cultural practice of drawing on the desert floor evolved slowly over many centuries.

Despite all these technological advancements, we may never have a definitive, universally accepted answer. The ancient Nazca culture left absolutely no written records to explain their monumental artwork. [ 6 ] It is this very enigma, this silence from the past, that continues to draw thousands of curious tourists to the Peruvian desert each year.

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