Friday 31 October 2014

Geoglyphs as communication tool in the desert, Arica

Geoglyphs are signs carved into mountains which carry a message for people passing by. It was a way of communication in South Peru and North Chile between 3.000 and 2.000 years ago. It is amazing that these symbols are still there.

There are many theories of the story behind the geoglyphs. Some think it is linked to astronomy, you often see carvings of animals, others believe it were just market signs. Some of the symbols on our pictures are more than 80 meters long. We can recognise birds, men and dogs. It was still early in the morning when we took these pictures of the geoglyphs and the moon.

Geoglyphs zijn ingekerfde tekeningen op bergen die een boodschap uitbeelden voor voorbijgangers. Het was een communicatie wijze in zuid Peru en Noord Chile ongeveer 2.000 tot 3.000 jaar geleden. Het is ongelooflijk dat deze symbolen nog steeds bestaan. 

Er zijn vele theorieën achter deze tekeningen. Sommigen denken dat het in verband staat met astrologie, je ziet regelmatig beeltenissen van dieren, andere zien er dagelijkse boodschappen in zoals een markt. Sommige tekeningen zijn 80 meter lang. We herkenden vogels, mensen en honden. Het was nog vroeg in de ochtend toen we deze foto's trokken van de Geoglyphs en de maan.
 
Geoglyphs Arica

Geoglyphs Arica Moon

Geoglyphs Arica Mountains desert

Geoglyphs Arica birds

Geoglyphs Arica birds dogs

Geoglyphs Arica dogs

Geoglyphs Arica dogs

Geoglyphs Arica

Geoglyphs Arica

Geoglyphs Arica

Previous Arica Region article: The wonder of nature, Lake Chungará with its volcanoes, Chile

Previous Symbols article: Hagia Sophia or the church of the holy wisdom, Istanbul

Return to main page

11 comments:

  1. They bare a resemblance to the Egyptian hieroglyphs.

    ReplyDelete
  2. You'd figure they'd be unreadable after so much time

    ReplyDelete
  3. heel interessant Filip, hierbij moet ik ook aan de Nasca lijnen denken. Lieve groeten, Dietmut

    ReplyDelete
  4. Yes it would be interesting to go back in time and find out what they actually meant. Great shot of the moon.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Really interesant. Thanks for sharing.
    Greetings

    ReplyDelete
  6. Amazing how way in the past how they told their stories.

    ReplyDelete
  7. dit is super wat mooi om daar te zijn.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Boeiend log, Filip !
    Lie(f)s.

    ReplyDelete
  9. How fascinating it is to see these on the sides of the hills. Very interesting to think of what these might mean.

    ReplyDelete

Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.