The history of the Nazca lines began in 200 BC when a series of drawings were discovered throughout the Peruvian Desert. They were discovered in 1930 when people flying across the place spotted that the shapes of the lines lead to various geometrical outlines. Today, the configuration of these lines is still a mystery and various hypotheses were being presented for the people over the years.

One theory, and probably the most sensible one, had to do with the Nazca people who wanted to make giant drawings for the ancient gods. The people believed that if they made massive lines, the gods will have had the chance to see them from the sky. Over the years, various archeologists have studied the theory and the closer they got the more they changed their perspective. Additional hypothesis implied that the giant spider for example, is an anamorphic diagram of the Orion constellation.

For tourists who want to find out more about the drawings, as well as see them with their own eyes, there are several programs available. You can opt for a short day trip by air and admire the illustrations, or you can simply walk the ground but you won’t understand anything. These shapes can only be seen perfectly from the sky. Regarding images and peculiar shapes, some of the most significant ones are the spider, the dog, the astronaut, the giant monkey and the heron.

The pattern of the lines was made in the ground by brushing away the surface of the desert. However, this is just an assumption. In fact, nobody knows for sure how the amazing drawings appeared on the Peruvian Desert. It was in 1995 when the place was finally integrated in the UNESCO World Heritage repertoire when they finally admitted that the lines were indeed extraordinary and unique. The dimensions of the outlines are varied and the biggest one measures approximately 200 meters.

Over the years, scientists and experts decided to make various excavations in order to find out who made the drawings and why. Although, they didn’t find out too many things, they did come across other lines spread across the desert. Out of all the discoveries, there was one particular case when archeologist Christina Conlee found an actual skeleton decapitated and buried in the ground. The weird thing was not the skeleton but the fact that instead of a head, the body had a “head jar” decorated.

After the discovery, the scientist was even more intrigued by the drawings and about the identity of the skeleton found. For the moment, the area is still highly esteemed by the people of Peru and tourists alike. And even if they’re still intact, archeologists have some environmental concerns. In time, exterior factors will end up destroying the drawings. Pollution, erosion and deforestation are somehow inevitable and they will finally terminate the Nazca lines. Until then, the place is visited annually by thousands of people who are curious to see with their own eyes if the lines are real.