essay
An assessment of previous studies of the Nazca glyphs
lines of nazca • 183 • Published In 1990 • Pages: 1-40
By: Aveni, Anthony F..
AbstractBrief abstract written by HRAF anthropologists who have done the subject indexing for the document
The author describes the Nazca lines or geoglyphs, how they were created, their variety, and the line centers. Past research and previous hypotheses about why the lines were created are assessed systematically and in detail, including: as a calendar; to mark astronomical or celestial phenomena; as an intellectual exercise in geometry; for denoting the use of water (especially the line centers); as ceremonial pathways; and purely as works of art. It is urged that the lines be regarded from a culturally Andean perspective, and that multiple purposes are likely. Peak construction is given to be during Nazca phases 3-4, circa 100 BC-AD 100 in the employed chronology. [Note: In addition to the outmoded chronology, the reader is also cautioned that figures were incorrectly labeled in the original; e.g. on page 5 the reference to Fig. 2 should have been to Fig. 1.2a.]
- SubjectsDocument-level OCM identifiers given by the anthropology subject indexers at HRAF
- Reviews and critiques
- Theoretical orientation in research and its results
- Archaeological survey methods
- Visual arts
- Sacred objects and places
- Ideas about nature and people
- traditionCulture name from the Outline of World Cultures (OWC)
- Nazca
- HRAF PubDateThe date HRAF published the document
- 2015
- RegionThe area the document pertains to
- South America
- Sub RegionThe more specific area the document pertains to, which is located within the Region
- Central Andes
- Document TypeMay include journal articles, essays, collections of essays, monographs, or chapters/parts of monographs
- essay
- Evaluation
- Creator TypeThe type of person writing the document, e.g. Ethnographer, Missionary, Archaeologist, Folklorist, Linguist, Indigenous Person, and so on.
- Archaeoastronomer
- Document Rating A ranking done by HRAF anthropologists based on the strength of the source material on a scale of 1 to 5, as follows: 1 - poor; 2 - fair; 3 - good, useful data, but not uniformly excellent; 4 - excellent secondary data; 5 - excellent primary data.
- 4: Excellent Secondary Data
- 5: Excellent Primary Data
- AnalystThe HRAF anthropologist who subject indexed the document and prepared other materials for the eHRAF culture/tradition collection
- Sarah Berry; 2013
- Field DateThe date the researcher conducted the fieldwork or archival research that produced the document
- 1981, 1984
- Coverage DateThe date or dates that the information in the document pertains to
- 2200-1500 BP (200 BC-AD 500)
- Coverage PlaceLocation of the research culture or tradition (often a smaller unit such as a band, community, or archaeological site)
- "Pampa" (Nazca Lines), El Ingenio and Nazca districts, Nazca, Ica, Peru
- NotesAdditional notes
- A. F. Aveni
- For bibliographical references see document 12:Aveni (1990, References cited…)
- LCCNLibrary of Congress Control Number
- 89084667
- LCSHLibrary of Congress Subject Headings
- Nazca culture
- Social structure--Peru--History
- Nazca Lines Site (Peru)