Recent discovery of ancient feline geoglyph in Peru stuns archaeologists
Peru has long been renowned for its gigantic drawings created by ancient peoples. One recent discovery from 2020 depicts an image of a reclining cat. Scientists estimate this artwork to be over 2,000 years old.
Geoglyphs—this is the term used to describe the successive findings identified over recent years in the vicinity of Nazca, Peru. To date, the ancient representatives of the local culture have created drawings in this region that depict humans, animals, or, for example, hands. In 1994, UNESCO included these objects on the World Heritage List.
The most recent geoglyph identified near this Peruvian city is the aforementioned cat, which archaeologists recently discovered in 2020. According to scientists, the "reclining" animal on a steep mountainside measures around 121 feet in length and was created about 2,000 years ago, most likely around 200 BC.
They couldn’t see it earlier
Although the drawing of the gigantic cat had existed in Peru for hundreds of years, no one had previously noticed it. The discovery of the entire work required thorough cleaning and further conservation of the drawing. Technology, particularly drones, which are increasingly used for observation, also played a significant role for archaeologists.
Scientist Johny Isla, quoted by the Peruvian news agency Andina, points out that it is surprising that new drawings are still being discovered. However, the development of technology, especially drones, contributes to this.
How exactly did such drawings come to be in Peru? Over the years, many theories have emerged, including the most abstract ones related to the presence of extraterrestrials on Earth. Czech researcher Jiri Mruzek, on the other hand, believes that some of the geoglyphs may be linked to the mythical Atlantis. He points to a set of lines in Nazca that he believes are clues to this land's location.
The most plausible explanation for why the ancient peoples of Peru created such drawings is the worship of mountain deities related to water. Nazca is an arid area, so the people living there might have drawn animals, among other things, as part of prayers and offerings to the deities.
After the latest discovery in 2020, scientists noted that they are concerned about the development of nearby cities. According to archaeologists, urbanisation may disturb archaeological work and negatively affect yet-to-be-discovered geoglyphs.
