Located on the dry Peruvian plain the geoglyphs of the Nazca civilization are a mystery.
They represent coastal and jungle birds as well as a monkey, spider, snail, whale, llamas, iguanas, lizards and a recently discovered cat. Some of the birds depicted are hummingbird, condor, pelican, crane, parrots and seagulls. More than 800 figures have been found.
It is unknown how or why these images were etched into rock more than 1300 feet above sea level. Some archaeologists think the lines may be sacred roads and others an astronomical map or some type of calendar.
The Nazca society thrived between 500 BCE and 500 CE and it is believed the images were created from 1 to 650 CE. The Nazca Lines became a UNESCO world Heritage Site in 1994.
Peru issued stamps depicting Maria Reiche, an archaeologist known for her research of the Nazca Lines.
Archaeology Study Unit 