Summary of The Nazca Great Circle Map Hypothesis

The enormous long lines and figures drawn on the Nazca Plateau represent a map of Earth. In a similar way that a flat Mercator map represents the spherical Earth, the two- dimensional lines of the Nazca map represent three-dimensional circles called great circles. These circles can be imagined as invisible rings that encircle the Earth. Most of the straight lines at Nazca radiate from 5 locations on the plateau. The figures of animals and other shapes, called geoglyphs, are like place names on modern maps indicating specific regions of the Earth. Using the figures one can determine the 5 locations on Earth that are represented by the 5 locations on the plateau, and convert the long straight lines of the map into great circles around the Earth.

Once the lines are converted into great circles, a pattern emerges. Under the path of these great circles—in “alignment” with them—are the Earth’s major volcanoes, impact craters and ancient monuments. Submerged ancient structures may also form part of the pattern, as most that have been found, although few in number, seem to be beneath the paths of the great circles of the Nazca map.

The work is divided into three sections:

Part I: The Nazca Great Circle Map Hypothesis. Explains how to read the Nazca map and convert it into its three- dimensional great circle form.

Part II: The Random Simulation Experiment – A Statistical Analysis of The Nazca Great Circle Map-Plateau. Presents the proof of the hypothesis using the Random Simulation Experiment. The Random Simulation is a computer program which tests the great circles of the map for alignment with the major volcanoes, impact craters and ancient monuments of Earth by comparison with random great circles.

Part III: The Geoglyphic Code. Presents the visual evidence that the Nazca geoglyphs represent topographic and bathymetric contours of certain parts of Earth’s surface, similar to the contour drawing style of common maps.

You can view the entire construct on our Virtual Nazca Earth Map, which uses Google Maps to graphically present the lines as Great Circles. It also shows all the locations that we tested in our simulation experiment.

Below is a short video where we visually explain the key concepts. It may be useful to view this before diving into the Hypothesis. We also have an Introduction page which provides background information on various relevant topics such as the Nazca Plateau itself, the physical nature of the Nazca lines, the work of Dr. Maria Reiche, portolan maps, and more.