MadSci Network: Earth Sciences |
The subject of etchings on the ground is fascinating! As you have noted, they are found in a variety of places. Perhaps the largest and most well-known are those found on the Nazca Plain in Peru, a few hundred miles south of Lima. If you use the Internet, or have a librarian who can help you, there are many, many references to the "Nazca Lines" as they are called. These markings look as though they were made to be viewed from a position above the earth's surface, and have even been described as 'airport runways' for visitors from outer space (although one may wonder why a spaceship would need a runway)..... There are also some astonishingly good pictures of large giraffes (!) carved on rocks in the Sahara desert, thought to have been left by prehistoric people thousands of years ago -- see the Sept. '99 issue of National Geographic. Then, of course, there are lots of references to the petroglyphs (images carved on rock) in the southwestern US. Again, you might try the Internet or your friendly local librarian for references to the Anasazi culture. These people fluorished in the area that is now New Mexico and Arizona, but then they mysteriously disappeared around 900 AD, leaving a wonderful legacy of rock art that includes the popular figure Kokopelli, the Flute Player. There have been several TV shows, including a NOVA episode, on Chaco Canyon, where there is an abundance of rock art. Hope this helps!
Try the links in the MadSci Library for more information on Earth Sciences.