the Great Mystery

 With these two earthworks we are confronted with a great mystery. Why would ancient cultures create such laborious effigies, and after such an arduous task, what purpose/benefit would they serve? These types of earthworks are found throughout the ancient world and are an impressive display of energy. One day we may have the answers, but for now we can only theorize. 

The top image is an aerial photo of the Nazca hummingbird geoglyph located in the Southern desert of Peru. The lines were made by removing stones to reveal lighter colored rocks underneath. The darker stones were then placed along the borders forming an outline around the newly unearthed stones. Recovered wooden stakes at the site point to the theory that the lines would have been mapped out by stretching cords between the stakes to guide the workers along. They possibly used gridded drawings or textiles that they simply enlarged through the staking method. This massive undertaking would surely have had a purpose. One of the strongest theories point to the desert terrain and the peoples need for water. Could these be an ancient irrigation system? (1)

Even less is known about the origins and dates of the Great Serpent Mound shown in the bottom image. This earthwork is located in southwestern Ohio and there is a heated debate about when it was made. Like the Nazca hummingbird geoglyph it is massive in size. The Mound measures 1,300 feet in length and  one to  three feet in height. It is also an effigy, or representative of an animal, like the Nazca hummingbird. The intention here points to a celestial hypothesis rather than an earthly one, but like the Nasca Lines it may be a mapping technique. (2)

Notable similarities in the earthworks are the adaptation of important animal figures. Indigenous peoples had strong beliefs surrounding the spiritual power of the animals they encountered. It is possible that the Nasca was using tropical animals to signify a water source while the Serpent Mound may have been attributing the supernatural power of the serpent to their map of the stars. Obviously, they are both massive and can only truly be appreciated from an aerial vantage point. The mystery remains as to why ancient cultures would put so much effort into creating these immense geological artworks.

    Notes:

    1. Yantz, Jayne, "Nasca Geoglyphs," Smart History, accessed November 21, 2020, https://smarthistory.org/nasca-geoglyphs/.

    2. Brown, Katherine T., "Fort Ancient Culture: Great Serpent Mound," Khan Academy, accessed November 21, 2020, https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ap-art-history/indigenous-americas-apah/north-america-apah/a/fort-ancient-culture-great-serpent-mound.