Geoglyphs of the Atacama desert - Chile
Geoglifos Cerros Pintados - geoglyphs of the Atacama desert
In the Atacama Desert of northern Chile can be found another cluster of Pre-Columbian Geoglyphs.
They were discovered in 1961 by James Kieghlev, while performing an aerial survey of the region, Some of the geoglyphs are as large as 300 ft/100 meters. A later survey by geologist Robert Hamilton and engineer Emil de Bruyne resulted in the realization that the region was, at one point, populated by large agriculturally based culture with large settlements and ceremonial centers.
The largest of the geoglyphs is "EL GIGANTE" (the "Giant"), which is almost 400 ft long (120 meters).
To date, on the hill-sides of Atacama, have been found representations of: humans, animals, and geometric designs. The appears to use similar techniques to those found on the Nazca Plateau of Peru. Unfortunately, access to these geoglyphs is restricted by lack of roads, making a walking trek necessary to view them.
There are over 5,000 prehistoric geoglyphs in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, and like the Nazca lines of Peru, they are mysterious, beautiful and awe-inspiring.
Although we can't know the entire reason they were built, researcher Luis Briones believes they are part sign post and part story-telling along a transportation network connecting the South American civilizations in combined commercial and religious travel led by caravans of llamas.
Geoglyphs of the Atacama desert - Chile
Geoglifos Cerros Pintados - geoglyphs of the Atacama desert
In the Atacama Desert of northern Chile can be found another cluster of Pre-Columbian Geoglyphs.
They were discovered in 1961 by James Kieghlev, while performing an aerial survey of the region, Some of the geoglyphs are as large as 300 ft/100 meters. A later survey by geologist Robert Hamilton and engineer Emil de Bruyne resulted in the realization that the region was, at one point, populated by large agriculturally based culture with large settlements and ceremonial centers.
The largest of the geoglyphs is "EL GIGANTE" (the "Giant"), which is almost 400 ft long (120 meters).
To date, on the hill-sides of Atacama, have been found representations of: humans, animals, and geometric designs. The appears to use similar techniques to those found on the Nazca Plateau of Peru. Unfortunately, access to these geoglyphs is restricted by lack of roads, making a walking trek necessary to view them.
There are over 5,000 prehistoric geoglyphs in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile, and like the Nazca lines of Peru, they are mysterious, beautiful and awe-inspiring.
Although we can't know the entire reason they were built, researcher Luis Briones believes they are part sign post and part story-telling along a transportation network connecting the South American civilizations in combined commercial and religious travel led by caravans of llamas.