The hummingbird (305 feet),
Friday, March 25, 2005, 9 AM.
"The bill of this bird ends at a group of lines, the
last of which pointed to the rising sun on December the
21st." Maria Reiche, Mystery on the desert.
The Nazca Lines
were made by removing the layer of
iron-oxide coated pebbles that covered the
desert surface. When this gravel was removed
the pebbles drew a stark contrast with the
light-colored soil underneath. The furrows
made in the earth were drawn with great
accuracy and it is likely that the Nazca
people had both a thorough understanding of
geometry and basic engineering, much like
the ancient Egyptians. The drawings remain
on the plateau after so many years due to
the lack of wind, dry desert air and limited
human interaction.
See also: Isolines Art Illustration: Nazca Lines: the Hummingbird