The Nazca Lines are located in the arid Peruvian coastal plain, some 400 km south of Lima, the geoglyphs of Nazca and the pampas of Jumana cover about 450 sq. km. The Nazca Lines, which were scratched on the surface of the ground between 500 B.C. and A.D. 500, are among archaeology’s greatest enigmas because of their quantity, nature, size and continuity. The geoglyphs depict living creatures, stylized plants and imaginary beings, as well as geometric figures several kilometers long. They are believed to have had ritual astronomical functions. Source: UNESCO
To date there is no satisfactory theory that explains why geoglyphs were made. One theory is that the Nazca people created them to be seen by their gods in the sky. This is purely an assumption with no evidence to support it. Another theory postulates that the lines were intended to act as a kind of observatory, to point to the places on the distant horizon where the sun and other celestial bodies rose or set. The observatory theory falls flat thanks to the large volume of lines present. For every astronomical alignment that exist there are hundreds that do not. The ones that do exist appear to be purely accidental. Finally there are the ancient astronaut theories that puts forth that these are ancient runways for spacecraft. Cool as this would be there is no evidence to support this. At best they appear to resemble runways in appearance only. Many of the lines follow the terrain and show no evidence of grading. The ancient astronaut theory also does nothing to explain the presents of glyphs representing spiders, birds, and so on.
What we are left with are geoglyphs that can be only seen from the air. The world at large did know of their existent until a plane flew over the area in1927.
This final theory attempts to explain how the lines were made. Jim Woodmann believes that the Nazca Lines could not have been made without some form of manned flight to see the figures properly. Based on his study of available technology, he suggests that a hot air balloon was the only possible means of flight. To test this hypothesis, Woodmann made a hot-air balloon using materials and techniques that he understood to be available to the Nazca people. The balloon flew, after a fashion. Most scholars have rejected Woodmann’s thesis as ad hoc,because of the lack of any evidence of such balloons.
Now we get to the image I included with this post. I don’t think I have seen this image posted anywhere else. Is it possible I’m the first to find it? The image can be found on Google Earth at coordinates 14°33’21.17″ S 75°10’06.91″ W. If you look closely at the figure it appears to be man holding on to something over its head. Could be one of many things including a blanket or a sun shade. Could also be a parasail, a hang glider, or a baloon. What do you think?