Scientists have announced that they have managed to uncover the secret of the Peruvian geoglyphs - the spiral-shaped puquios in the Nazca desert. In the solution, the scientists were helped by images taken by a satellite.
Previously, scientists have already suggested that the Nazca geoglyphs, made in the form of people, animals and mythical characters, are in fact an ancient irrigation system. However, the incomprehensible spiral holes in the earth have not yet been explained. Scientists have tried to study puquios, but have not been successful due to the inability to use the radiocarbon method to study tunnels. The representatives of the Nazca civilization themselves did not leave any clues to the origin of spiral holes: like many other South American cultures, with the exception of the Maya, the Nazca did not have a written language.
According to Mic, citing research leader Rosa Lazaponaro of the Italian Institute of Methodology and Environmental Analysis, the spiraling holes that haunted researchers - puquios - are actually part of an ancient complex hydraulic system designed to extract groundwater. According to Lazaponaro, after examining the images taken by the satellite, scientists analyzed the placement of puquios, while understanding the pattern of movement of water in the desert. All the holes were connected by a system of tunnels, similar to a modern subway. Each of the spiral holes was a kind of pump, pumping air into the tunnels, directing water to the right place. Thus, water flowed to human settlements, where it was used for daily needs and agriculture. Scientists believe that the engineering system was built so wellthat many of the puquios can still function today. In order to create such holes in the ground, Nazca required not only special equipment, but also deep knowledge of geology and the movement of groundwater, since part of the tunnels ran through tectonic faults. In addition, there should have been a system for servicing such "air wells".
Rosa Lazaponaro also did not rule out that the spiral holes could be connected to the Nazca geoglyphs. Also, according to scientists, such a system in the Nazca culture played a political role: those in power could control the amount of water distributed between communities, thereby supporting the existing social system.
Nazca is a pre-Columbian civilization that existed on the southern coast of Peru since the 2nd century. BC e. to VI century. n. e. The Nazca geoglyphs are a group of giant geometric shapes in the desert in southern Peru. Scientists have counted about 30 images, including a bird, a monkey, a spider, flowers, etc. In addition, about 700 geometric figures are attributed to geoglyphs, among which triangles and trapezoids prevail. The images reach several hundred meters in length, so it was possible to distinguish them only after the first aerial photography in the first half of the 20th century. There are no detailed maps showing all Peruvian geoglyphs yet. At various times, scientists have suggested that geoglyphs may be an astronomical calendar or religious symbols.