The Nazca Lines are a series of large geoglyphs etched into the desert landscape of southern Peru. They were created by the Nazca culture between 500 BCE and 500 CE. The Nazca Lines depict various animals, plants, imaginary creatures, and geometric figures ranging in size from 50 feet to over 600 feet across.
One of the most famous figures among the Nazca Lines is the giant hummingbird geoglyph located on a plateau near the town of Palpa. At over 300 feet in length, it is one of the largest and most visually impressive of the geoglyphs.
When and who created the Nazca hummingbird?
The Nazca hummingbird figure is believed to have been created sometime between 300 BCE and 700 CE during the late Paracas and Nazca cultural periods. The precise age is difficult to determine. Like the other Nazca Lines, it was made by the Nazca people who inhabited the river valleys of the arid southern coast of Peru.
The Nazca possessed advanced engineering skills and were capable of constructing the massive geoglyphs that have lasted for centuries. They created the lines by removing the top layer of reddish iron oxide coated pebbles to reveal the lighter soil underneath. The Nazca were one of several contemporary civilizations including the Moche, Tiwanaku, Wari and later the Inca, known for their accomplishments in art, architecture, engineering and cultivating arid coastal regions through aqueducts and irrigation.
Purpose and meaning
The exact purpose and meaning of the Nazca Lines, including the hummingbird, remain a mystery since the Nazca left no written records. Based on their precise depictions of animals and plants significant to Nazca culture, archaeologists believe they were created for ritualistic/religious purposes and were meant to be seen by the Nazca deities who lived in the sky.
The hummingbird held cultural significance for the Nazca and was depicted in their textiles and pottery. Hummingbirds had religious associations with fertility and life. Due to their agility and speed, they were seen as messengers who could communicate with the gods. The giant hummingbird geoglyph may have been intended as a symbolic religious offering to ensure abundant crops and vegetation nourished by the rapid pollination of hummingbirds.
Location and physical characteristics
The hummingbird is located about 2 miles south of the town of Palpa in the arid Palpa Valley. It sits on a plateau that slopes gently downhill from northeast to southwest at an altitude of about 2,000 feet. The plateau has a natural vantage point from which the lines can be viewed.
The hummingbird has characteristics that identify it as a member of the Trochilidae family of hummingbirds. It has a long, slender, curved beak suited for accessing nectar from flowers. The wings are represented in a wingbeat formation with the tips pointed backwards. The tail is large and fan-shaped, typical of hummingbird anatomy. The figure’s feet are not depicted.
The hummingbird is positioned in a flying orientation, with its head tilted slightly upwards. The body style resembles the Giant Hummingbird species found along the Andes Mountains and coast of Peru. The geoglyph likely represents a member of this largest hummingbird species.
Physical dimensions
- Length: Over 300 feet
- Wingspan: Approximately 210 feet
- Width of body: About 70 feet
- Length of beak: Over 65 feet
The hummingbird figure covers over 7,000 square feet of land. Its enormous size makes it visible from an aerial view, which has contributed to its fame as a recognizable Nazca Lines icon.
Methods of construction
The Nazca hummingbird was constructed in a remarkably precise and artistic manner despite limited surveying technology of the time period. The Nazca used basic tools such as ropes, stakes and wood hammers made of wood and rock.
To create the geoglyphs, they first mapped out the image and marked important points related to scale and proportions. These points were connected with straight lines. They next removed the top reddish pebbles and stones from the ground within the marked outlines to reveal the light-colored soil beneath. The revealed lines could then be seen from higher altitudes.
The straight and curved lines of the hummingbird form were achieved through skillful estimation and visual sighting techniques. The consistency in line widths required great precision. The Nazca kept true to the hummingbird’s anatomy while enlarging it to monumental scale.
Modern history of study
After being abandoned by the Nazca, knowledge of the geoglyphs was mostly lost. Some figures were discovered by early Spanish conquistadors in the 1500s, but the sites remained little known. The hummingbird figure was first documented in print by Pedro Cieza de León in 1553 after he observed it from a hillside.
In 1927, Peruvian archaeologist Toribio Mejia Xesspe spotted the hummingbird while hiking in the Andes. He later studied the ground drawings from aerial photographic surveys helped by pilot Robert Shippee. Maria Reiche, a German-born mathematician and archaeologist, devoted her life’s work to studying the Nazca Lines from the 1940s to 1990s. Reiche advocated for their preservation while she catalogued, mapped, and researched the figures.
Archaeologists have used modern technology and data such as satellite imagery, drone photography, 3D scanning, and soil composition analysis to study the lines and theorize about their construction methods and purpose.
Significance
The Nazca hummingbird holds historic and cultural significance for the following reasons:
- One of the best preserved figures due to isolated location
- Iconic symbol of the Nazca civilization and Peruvian heritage
- Masterwork of ancient artistry, archaeoastronomy and geoglyphs
- Example of Nazca culture’s reverence for nature and wildlife
- Illustration of sophisticated geoglyph construction methods
- Important for archaeological research into the Nazca people
- Tourist attraction that boosts Peru’s economy
The hummingbird and other Nazca Lines have been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1994, helping to ensure the preservation of this cultural treasure.
Threats and conservation
The Nazca Lines face ongoing threats from both natural and human causes, highlighting the importance of conservation efforts.
Natural threats
- Wind and rain erosion wearing away at lines
- Damage from flooding due to heavy rains from occasional El Nino events
- Disruption by wild vicuna animals living in the area
Human threats
- Encroaching urban development and pollution
- Destruction by looters, squatters and illegal miners
- Off-road vehicles crossing over lines
- Disruption by tourists walking on ground
Protective measures by the Peruvian government and conservation groups include restricting access by vehicles and people, increased site surveillance and patrols, community education, and sustainable tourism management. Drones and cameras help monitor threats today. Preserving the Nazca Lines for future generations remains an ongoing endeavor.
Conclusion
The giant hummingbird geoglyph of the Nazca Lines is an engineering marvel that highlights ancient Peru’s cultural sophistication and reverence for nature. Its huge scale, client anatomical details, and isolated desert location allowed the figure to remain intact. The hummingbird represents cultural heritage and has immense archaeological value in what it reveals about the Nazca civilization.
While many questions remain unanswered, the hummingbird continues to captivate people worldwide as an iconic masterwork of ancient art and culture. Peru actively works to safeguard the geoglyph from modern-day threats. The hummingbird survives from ancient times as a monument to Peru’s historic native cultures and the Nazca’s ritual tributes to nature’s small but mighty pollinators.
