An ancient cat drawing discovered in Peru

| Read time: 4 minute(s)
An ancient cat drawing discovered in Peru Nazca Lines We all know cats like to laze around, and purr in warm cozy places. Owners of cats know how eccentric their pet can be but imagine a drawing of a cat which is more than 2,000 years old and is a life size portrait. A massive ancient drawing of a cat has been discovered near Nazca Lines in Peru. Peru’s famous Nazca Lines is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its depictions of larger-than-life animals, plants and imaginary beings. They are a collection of huge lines and drawings made in the Nazca desert in Peru over 2,000 years ago. These massive figures are often called “geoglyphs”. The discovery of the etchings, believed to be more than 2,000 years old, was announced by the South American country last week. Peru’s Ministry of Culture tweeted, “In the midst of the remodelling work that is being carried out at the Natural Viewpoint, in the Pampa de Nazca, a new figurative geoglyph was identified, -corresponding to a feline-, which had been drawn on one of the slopes of this hill.” According to the ministry, the figure is 37 meters long when seen horizontally, and dates from the late Paracas era (500 BC – 200 AD). Between 2,500 years ago and 1,500 years ago, people in the area created hundreds of the lines. Most are simple lines or basic shapes. But about 70 of the geoglyphs are shaped like animals or people. Almost all are drawn with one unbroken line. The lines for the drawings were made by removing the top layer of reddish rocks from the desert floor, leaving a brighter-colored area underneath. The figures include pelicans (the largest ones sized around 935 feet long), Andean Condors (443 feet), monkeys (360 feet), hummingbirds (165 feet), and spiders (150 feet). Fun fact The Lines were first discovered in 1927, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.

We all know cats like to laze around, and purr in warm cozy places. Owners of cats know how eccentric their pet can be but imagine a drawing of a cat which is more than 2,000 years old and is a life size portrait.

A massive ancient drawing of a cat has been discovered near Nazca Lines in Peru. Peru’s famous Nazca Lines is a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its depictions of larger-than-life animals, plants and imaginary beings. They are a collection of huge lines and drawings made in the Nazca desert in Peru over 2,000 years ago. These massive figures are often called “geoglyphs”.

The discovery of the etchings, believed to be more than 2,000 years old, was announced by the South American country last week. Peru’s Ministry of Culture tweeted, “In the midst of the remodelling work that is being carried out at the Natural Viewpoint, in the Pampa de Nazca, a new figurative geoglyph was identified, -corresponding to a feline-, which had been drawn on one of the slopes of this hill.” According to the ministry, the figure is 37 meters long when seen horizontally, and dates from the late Paracas era (500 BC – 200 AD).

Between 2,500 years ago and 1,500 years ago, people in the area created hundreds of the lines. Most are simple lines or basic shapes. But about 70 of the geoglyphs are shaped like animals or people. Almost all are drawn with one unbroken line.

The lines for the drawings were made by removing the top layer of reddish rocks from the desert floor, leaving a brighter-colored area underneath. The figures include pelicans (the largest ones sized around 935 feet long), Andean Condors (443 feet), monkeys (360 feet), hummingbirds (165 feet), and spiders (150 feet).

Fun fact

The Lines were first discovered in 1927, and were declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994.

Location

Rate Now

Read to me