What Are Geoglyphs?

The question is, “What Are Geoglyphs?”

Geoglyphs are huge images that were carved into the Peruvian desert by the ancient Nazca people in the first and sixth centuries. They were first spotted from the air in 1939.

These huge images were thought to be carved by removing the reddish brown stones that cover the surface which exposed a lighter colour underneath. The images are of animals, birds, insects, pottery, textiles, flowers, plants, trees, spirals, triangles and rectangles.

Experts believe that some geoglyphs lines were to be prayed and danced upon to ask for rain, where some could be of a more spiritual nature.

Although these huge images are visible from the foothills they are best viewed from the air, so with that in mind, who were they designed for?

With images so huge that can only really be seen from the air, my opinion is that they are landmarks that gave guidance to small aircraft's to possible landing sites.

Aviation technology advanced during the twentieth century, but we’re talking here about the first and sixth century when these drawings were first carved out!

In China 400 BCE which is the fourth century, a toy helicopter rotor called the Bamboo-copter and also known as the bamboo dragonfly or Chinese top was created. It was able to fly when its shaft was rapidly spun. This toy was introduced into Europe and made appearances in some paintings.

So armed with this information, could it be possible that aviation had been invented a lot earlier with the creation of a flying device that was inspired by the drawing of this Chinese helicopter toy?

What do you think?

Author: Charmain Ingleton