essay

A statistical examination of the radial line azimuths at Nazca

lines of nazca183 • Published In 1990 • Pages: 245-269

By: Ruggles, C. L. N. (Clive L. N.).

Abstract
Based on archaeoastronomical approaches to British megalithic structures, the author makes a statistical study of Nazca line azimuths, hoping to reveal at least some of the purposes of creating the lines. Lines radiating out from three centers were more regular than expected, and there are fewer lines pointing east and more pointing north than expected. Most line centers have at least one wide line oriented in the upstream direction, but avoid pointing to two prominent features in the landscape: Cerro Blanco and Cerro Portachuelo. Lines were not clearly oriented to the solar arc, though some line centers may have been oriented to stars or constellations.
Subjects
Climate
Visual arts
Sacred objects and places
Ethnometeorology
Ethnogeography
tradition
Nazca
HRAF PubDate
2015
Region
South America
Sub Region
Central Andes
Document Type
essay
Evaluation
Creator Type
Archaeoastronomer
Document Rating
4: Excellent Secondary Data
5: Excellent Primary Data
Analyst
Sarah Berry; 2013
Field Date
1984
Coverage Date
2200-524 BP (200 BC-AD 1476)
Coverage Place
"Pampa" (Nazca Lines), El Ingenio and Nazca districts, Nazca, Ica, Peru
Notes
Clive L. N. Ruggles
For bibliographical references see document 12:Aveni (1990, References cited…)
LCCN
89084667
LCSH
Nazca culture
Social structure--Peru--History
Nazca Lines Site (Peru)