Drones Uncover More Mysterious Ancient Drawings In The Peru Desert

In the harsh desert of Peru lie the Nazca Lines, a collection of desert-etched drawings (geoglyphs) believed to be attempts by ancient Peruvians at communicating with the gods. The lines captivate the minds of archaeologists and conspiracy theorists throughout the world and are now one of Peru’s main tourist attractions. Today, planes take off daily to give tourists aerial views of the lines — but until recently, no one knew that nearby were another, even older collection of lines. With the help of drones, archeologists have found a new set of figures etched in the desert.

Protecting the Nazca Lines has long been a concern for the Peruvian government. As recently as January 2018, a truck driver ran over some of the lines and destroyed a part of the ancient ruins. Additionally, back in December 2014, Greenpeace staged a protest in the desert near the Nazca Lines, and left footprints around the ancient geoglyphs. The unfortunate damage lead to the creation of a grant with the United States in hopes of restoring and protecting the area, according to National Geographic. The grant was meant to help protect, preserve, and better map the country’s remarkable archeological sites.

Drone-wielding archeologists descended on the Peruvian desert to help map out the lines and give more clarity to the geoglyphs. With the aid of the drones’ technological sharpness, archeologists discovered new images hidden in the desert, some undetectable by the human eye. The images, unlike the more geometric figures at the Nazca set, depict more human and animal figures believed to have been done by ancestors of the Paracas people.

A look at the desert as it stretches away from the Nazca Airport

The Nazca Lines remain a main stop along the Peruvian Gringo Tour, which takes travelers from Lima, through the south and then up to Cusco. The new findings will only bring more attention to the Nazca lines and, in the future, tours may include the new figures. The UNESCO designation of the Nazca Lines also covers the area where the new figures have been found, which will help in preserving these enigmatic carvings for future generations to witness their mystery.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.