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[MUSIC PLAYING]
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>> In many places on our
planet, men and women have left
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mysterious traces behind them.
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These are geoglyphs,
designs left
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on hillsides or the ground
made by the hand of man.
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Most of these designs have
been erased by passing time,
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but some have passed
through history to reach us.
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It's a miracle that we can
still admire some of them.
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While no one knows the
name of their creators,
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all the geoglyphs are shrouded
in mystery and legend.
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What was it that led people to
conceive these enormous shapes
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and to leave a message
in the ground which would
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last throughout the millennia?
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>> We know that gods and
goddesses were very important
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way back in the past.
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>> Really, making shapes,
carving them into the ground,
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that's not too difficult.
On the other hand,
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planning on such a big scale,
that's impressive work.
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>> The Nazca civilization, which
is mainly known for its lines,
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didn't just produce that.
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>> He's iconic.
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He's unique.
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He attracts a lot of interest.
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And he generates a
lot of storytelling.
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>> It's an enigmatic shape.
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No one knows when it
dates from or who made it.
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>> We can't be sure why it
was made in the first place.
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So these things are
mysterious fundamentally.
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[MUSIC PLAYING]
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>> We will go to England, where
many geoglyphs can be found.
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We will also visit South
America, in the Atacama Desert,
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where different peoples at
different moments in history
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have left these mysterious
designs in the ground.
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Let us begin with the most
enigmatic, the Nazca Lines.
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[MUSIC PLAYING]
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Every year,
thousands of tourists
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cross the Atacama Desert
in Peru to come face
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to face with one of the
greatest mysteries of humanity's
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history.
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Of all the geoglyphs
in the world,
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the Nazca Lines are
certainly the most famous.
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However, upon arrival,
there is just a desert
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plain to be found, a
jumble of stones and dust
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with nothing at all
growing and no sign
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of any archaeological treasure.
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Only by getting
up onto a platform
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can a small part of the
puzzle here be seen.
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Two figures are visible,
a tree and a hand.
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As well, there are
long straight lines
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stretching out
towards the horizon.
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But to fully
comprehend the beauty
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of the geoglyphs of Nazca,
they must be seen from above.
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Since the only way to see the
lines properly is from a plane,
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flights are in great demand.
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Nazca Airport is the
second biggest in Peru.
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>> The lines can be
seen from raised ground,
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but in my opinion the clearest
view of the lines is surely
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to see them from a plane.
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From the sky, you can best see
the true shapes of the lines.
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>> We came from Korea.
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Now, after waiting
for 45 minutes,
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we'll be able to see
the lines from a plane.
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>> I've seen so many
reports on this and photos.
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There's a lot of
mystery surrounding
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this, where it came from, who
made it, how they made it.
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>> Since no one can explain
scientifically what they are,
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what they mean, or
why they were made,
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we've come here ourselves to
get an idea of what these lines
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represent.
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[MUSIC PLAYING]
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>> But a sandstorm
rises over the town.
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All flights are canceled.
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Our pilot, Eduardo
Herran, offers
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to take us as close as
possible to the lines.
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Eduardo isn't just a pilot.
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He's fascinated by
the Nazca Lines.
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Aboard his microlight plane,
he has discovered hundreds.
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He takes us to the edge of town.
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This is where El Tela, the
weaving loom, is to be found.
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It's one of the rare geoglyphs
that can be closely approached,
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and which allows
us to understand
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how these lines were traced.
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>> In reality, it's very simple.
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The stones are pushed to the
sides and the center is swept.
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This means that a layer which
has more white clay in it
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stands out against
the dark surface.
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This is how the lines were made.
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It's really not
very complicated.
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>> Most of the lines could have
been made with simple tools
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such as stakes of
wood and ropes.
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But their precision proves
that the Nazca civilization
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understood mathematics.
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Many people, like
Eduardo, are convinced
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that the Nazcas had some way
of getting up high so they
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could check their work.
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>> From the ground, they're
not easy to make out.
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And what we can see from
here is rather shapeless.
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But the further up
in the sky you are,
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the easier it is to see
what these people were
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trying to say to us.
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So if you ask me whether the
ancient people could fly,
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I would say yes.
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I think they used kites made
from canvas and feathers
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to look at their work.
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>> Another of the mysteries
of the Nazca Lines is
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their incredible longevity.
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They can still be
seen after 2,000 years
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without anyone
looking after them.
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The first reason for
that is geographic.
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The lines are in the most
arid desert on the planet,
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where it never rains and
where vegetation is rare.
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The absence of humidity means
there is very little erosion.
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But sandstorms can also
play a part in this.
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>> All the surface dust is
pulled off as if the lines were
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being swept.
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So after one of
these storms, I like
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to fly my microlight
because it's possible
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that the winds have
made new marks visible.
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I think the ancient people knew
about this effect of the wind
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and used it as a maintenance
system to keep the lines clear.
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>> Next morning, the
sandstorm has died down.
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Flights progressively
start again at the airport.
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[MUSIC PLAYING]
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After a few minutes flying,
the great straight lines
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are the first that we can see.
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They seem to stretch
out for kilometers.
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Smaller designs can also
be seen, some of which
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represent animals.
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The monkey, the spider,
and the hummingbird
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are only some of the
hundreds of geoglyphs
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to be found on the plain.
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Anyone flying over these lines
is struck by these questions.
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Who made this?
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Why?
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How can these marks be
so precise, so straight?
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And what was the meaning
of these symbols?
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Why did this tradition of line
tracing last over 1,000 years?
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And everyone at Nazca
has their own explanation
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of the lines' origin.
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The straight lines
could have been
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sacred ways where gatherings
or sacrifices took place.
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Other people think
the lines were part
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of a cult of mountain worship.
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The zaniest explanation
comes from a writer coming up
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with the idea that
the lines could
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have been used as a landing
field by extraterrestrials.
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This hypothesis is reinforced
by a mysterious design
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on a mountainside which
could be an alien or a man
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with the head of an owl.
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>> What we can see here is
a model of the plane with
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the lines.
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This is only the commercialized
part of the area,
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so to speak, where all
the flights are made.
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Here you can find the monkey,
the dog, and the hummingbird.
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But this just represents
10% of the lines.
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We are confronted here
by a monumental document.
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>> To better understand
the Nazca Lines,
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we can try to tour around the
other geoglyphs on the planet.
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While the Nazca Lines
are the most famous,
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they're not the only geoglyphs.
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Others are to be
found in England,
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where dozens of what are called
Hill Figures can be found.
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[MUSIC PLAYING]
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The Wilmington Long Man
is at least 300 years old.
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Neither its makers nor
the motives for its making
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are known.
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The figure was forgotten, then
rediscovered one fine day.
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>> Up until the 19th century,
it had become grown over.
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And there was a
woman living there
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who noticed one day
when it had snowed
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that the snow was melting to
reveal the image of a man,
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of a figure.
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Just because the snow was
melting slightly differently
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in the channels.
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And so this figure
came out of the snow,
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and that's how it
was discovered.
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>> Philip Carr-Gomm is a druid.
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His relationship with the
giant began 20 years ago.
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When one of his friends died, he
undertook a pilgrimage on foot
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which ended at the
Wilmington Long Man.
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>> The reason why you have these
figures in this particular part
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of Britain is because the
topsoil is quite thin.
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And so you have the
white chalk, and then you
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have a thin layer of soil.
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So it's very easy to cut down
with a spade and cut it out,
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and then you can
see the white chalk.
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>> At one time, the chalk
could no longer be seen.
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The marks were
therefore replaced
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with cement painted white.
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Despite these
restorations, the Long Man
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remains a special place
for the region's druids.
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>> In druidism, we treat
all of the Earth as sacred.
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And there are also
special spots that
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seem to be especially
sacred or very important.
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And this is one such spot.
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Eight times a year,
our local druid group
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has a big festivity here.
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Eight times a year.
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The solstices, the
equinoxes, and so on.
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If you were in
Wiltshire, if we were
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00:12:03,790 --> 00:12:06,990
in another part of England, we
would meet at a stone circle.
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But here, we don't
have a stone circle.
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Instead we meet here.
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[MUSIC PLAYING]
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>> Many legends
surround the giant.
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Is it a lover sitting to
mourn the loss of his beloved?
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A giant wounded by a stone
thrown by another giant?
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Difficult to know
who made it and why.
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But beyond the legends
that the design inspires,
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Philip Carr-Gomm thinks that
the main thing is the effect
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it has on people now.
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>> And so it's a human figure.
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00:12:40,250 --> 00:12:42,870
And because it's
merely the outline,
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it somehow symbolizes
every man, every woman.
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00:12:46,930 --> 00:12:51,570
And onto this very simple image,
we can project all our feelings
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00:12:51,570 --> 00:12:55,900
and our thoughts about humanity
and what it means to be human.
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I think it's important
to find places for you
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00:12:58,980 --> 00:13:01,620
to go when either something
difficult has happened
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00:13:01,620 --> 00:13:05,220
in your life, or perhaps you
just need time on your own.
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00:13:05,220 --> 00:13:08,631
Life has become a little
stressful or difficult.
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[DRUM MUSIC]
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>> Geoglyphs can still play
a spiritual role for mankind.
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00:13:21,110 --> 00:13:23,720
And in Chile, people are
fighting to protect this
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00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:28,900
ancient cult. On the
Cerro Unitas Hill,
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00:13:28,900 --> 00:13:31,930
an 86 meter-long figure
has been contemplating
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00:13:31,930 --> 00:13:34,390
the plain for centuries.
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00:13:34,390 --> 00:13:37,060
The Atacama Giant was
made before the arrival
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00:13:37,060 --> 00:13:41,650
of the Spanish, between
the year 1,000 and 1,400.
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00:13:41,650 --> 00:13:44,060
The figure is the work
of the Aymara people,
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00:13:44,060 --> 00:13:45,590
and represents a Puma man.
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00:13:50,160 --> 00:13:53,200
>> The Atacama giant is
a very important place
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00:13:53,200 --> 00:13:57,160
for communication
with the cosmos.
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00:13:57,160 --> 00:14:00,100
It's a convergence point
for positive energy.
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00:14:03,320 --> 00:14:06,610
>> The Atacama Giant isn't the
only geoglyph on this hill.
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00:14:06,610 --> 00:14:09,850
There are also mysterious
circles, a feline design,
236
00:14:09,850 --> 00:14:10,820
and human figures.
237
00:14:13,680 --> 00:14:16,630
As at Nazca, the geoglyphs
have been drawn simply
238
00:14:16,630 --> 00:14:19,630
by moving stones and have
lasted through time thanks
239
00:14:19,630 --> 00:14:23,730
to the special
climate of the desert.
240
00:14:23,730 --> 00:14:25,970
The Aymaran culture
behind these figures
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00:14:25,970 --> 00:14:30,470
is a people of 22 million spread
out over Chile, Peru, Bolivia,
242
00:14:30,470 --> 00:14:33,710
and Argentina.
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00:14:33,710 --> 00:14:36,410
The Aymaran culture has a
deep respect for nature,
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00:14:36,410 --> 00:14:38,220
especially Mother
Earth, Pachamama.
245
00:14:40,755 --> 00:14:44,710
Javier Vilca is fighting to
save and transmit this culture.
246
00:14:48,200 --> 00:14:52,340
>> A long time ago, our
ancestors surely made offerings
247
00:14:52,340 --> 00:15:00,430
to nature in this place to
bring rain, to demand plenty,
248
00:15:00,430 --> 00:15:05,960
to calm the storms,
lessen the earthquakes,
249
00:15:05,960 --> 00:15:10,280
surely because our
culture is integrated,
250
00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:17,510
convivial and harmonious,
and respectful of nature.
251
00:15:17,510 --> 00:15:20,600
>> For centuries there was
open access to the Giant,
252
00:15:20,600 --> 00:15:23,150
and it was possible to
walk upon the lines.
253
00:15:23,150 --> 00:15:25,930
But tourism and the
irresponsible behavior of some
254
00:15:25,930 --> 00:15:27,800
menaced its protection.
255
00:15:27,800 --> 00:15:30,260
For some years now, access
has been prohibited.
256
00:15:35,060 --> 00:15:37,970
>> We can't go up on the hill.
257
00:15:37,970 --> 00:15:41,345
I'd like to go up there
and see what's there.
258
00:15:41,345 --> 00:15:44,960
At this distance, we can only
see that there's something.
259
00:15:44,960 --> 00:15:47,240
But what is it?
260
00:15:47,240 --> 00:15:51,110
I'd like to see to define
that more precisely.
261
00:15:51,110 --> 00:15:54,680
It should be what we call a
sacred table, a place where you
262
00:15:54,680 --> 00:15:56,735
can pray and give offerings.
263
00:15:56,735 --> 00:16:00,770
But, well, the day will come
when we see these places return
264
00:16:00,770 --> 00:16:04,110
to the indigenous people, the
true heirs of this culture.
265
00:16:11,010 --> 00:16:12,720
>> After the arrival
of the Spanish,
266
00:16:12,720 --> 00:16:15,780
different political regimes
tried to break up the Aymaran
267
00:16:15,780 --> 00:16:17,160
culture.
268
00:16:17,160 --> 00:16:19,650
Javier Vilca battles
daily to transmit
269
00:16:19,650 --> 00:16:23,070
the knowledge of that
culture to new generations,
270
00:16:23,070 --> 00:16:25,440
but it is difficult to
communicate and conserve
271
00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:26,610
these traditions.
272
00:16:26,610 --> 00:16:28,080
It's a different
view of the world
273
00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:29,913
which has to be taught
anew to the youngest.
274
00:16:33,160 --> 00:16:36,775
>> Our ancestors made their
offerings before going fishing
275
00:16:36,775 --> 00:16:40,220
to the water god, [SPANISH].
276
00:16:40,220 --> 00:16:43,290
They went to sea and
brought back their catch.
277
00:16:43,290 --> 00:16:45,967
Why Because they had
implored their god
278
00:16:45,967 --> 00:16:47,175
and the sea for its blessing.
279
00:16:50,640 --> 00:16:53,960
The sea is an important
source of nutrition.
280
00:16:53,960 --> 00:16:55,970
It feeds us.
281
00:16:55,970 --> 00:16:59,190
It's something tremendous.
282
00:16:59,190 --> 00:17:01,760
And because of that,
it must be loved.
283
00:17:01,760 --> 00:17:05,054
It must be preserved, because
the sea brings benefits
284
00:17:05,054 --> 00:17:08,420
to every one of us.
285
00:17:08,420 --> 00:17:12,340
[MUSIC PLAYING]
286
00:17:19,690 --> 00:17:22,760
>> Javier Vilca regrets that the
elements which would allow us
287
00:17:22,760 --> 00:17:25,970
to decode the geoglyphs
have been lost over time.
288
00:17:25,970 --> 00:17:28,250
He goes to the
Cerro Pintados site,
289
00:17:28,250 --> 00:17:31,010
a few kilometers away
from the Atacama Giant.
290
00:17:31,010 --> 00:17:32,630
Here, the whole
side of the mountain
291
00:17:32,630 --> 00:17:34,348
is covered with geoglyphs.
292
00:17:37,072 --> 00:17:40,110
>> There was an important
route which went from Altiplano
293
00:17:40,110 --> 00:17:43,170
to the sea and passed by here.
294
00:17:43,170 --> 00:17:45,720
We don't know since
when, but we do
295
00:17:45,720 --> 00:17:50,340
know it has been here for
several thousand years.
296
00:17:50,340 --> 00:17:53,100
We can't decode all
of this precisely
297
00:17:53,100 --> 00:17:55,362
because our wise
men, the [SPANISH],,
298
00:17:55,362 --> 00:17:57,810
are no longer with us.
299
00:17:57,810 --> 00:18:02,160
They left when the
conquistadors arrived.
300
00:18:02,160 --> 00:18:05,400
So amongst all the signs that
are here, there are only four
301
00:18:05,400 --> 00:18:10,280
we can easily recognize and that
we still use in our weaving.
302
00:18:10,280 --> 00:18:15,240
Like the water king, which
is represented by the toad.
303
00:18:15,240 --> 00:18:18,330
We can also recognize the
marriage symbol, these two
304
00:18:18,330 --> 00:18:21,780
little doves, which allow us
to see clearly which is the man
305
00:18:21,780 --> 00:18:24,810
and which is the woman.
306
00:18:24,810 --> 00:18:27,930
Then we have the llama, which
is a very important animal, part
307
00:18:27,930 --> 00:18:30,150
of life for indigenous
Aymaran society.
308
00:18:34,320 --> 00:18:38,550
There is also the sign
we call [SPANISH],, which
309
00:18:38,550 --> 00:18:41,730
is a symbol we recognize and
preserve because it represents
310
00:18:41,730 --> 00:18:42,900
the direction of life.
311
00:18:48,590 --> 00:18:51,510
>> Geoglyphs still hold a
place in various beliefs.
312
00:18:51,510 --> 00:18:54,420
Cults that are still dedicated
to them by some people
313
00:18:54,420 --> 00:18:55,980
give us an idea
of the link there
314
00:18:55,980 --> 00:18:58,890
could have been in the
past between the geoglyphs
315
00:18:58,890 --> 00:19:00,450
and their makers.
316
00:19:00,450 --> 00:19:02,470
The cults devoted
to the Nazca Lines
317
00:19:02,470 --> 00:19:04,470
couldn't have been that
different to those still
318
00:19:04,470 --> 00:19:06,870
existing today in
England and Chile,
319
00:19:06,870 --> 00:19:09,900
but this knowledge has
been lost over time.
320
00:19:09,900 --> 00:19:13,320
The Nazca Lines were only
rediscovered in 1924,
321
00:19:13,320 --> 00:19:16,700
when planes began to
fly over South America.
322
00:19:16,700 --> 00:19:20,100
But after 100 years of research,
their exact significance
323
00:19:20,100 --> 00:19:21,850
remains an enigma.
324
00:19:21,850 --> 00:19:24,900
The explanations given remain
for the moment just theories.
325
00:19:24,900 --> 00:19:26,925
Like the lines, there
are a lot of theories.
326
00:19:32,520 --> 00:19:34,860
It was a woman,
Maria Reiche, who
327
00:19:34,860 --> 00:19:36,780
began to really
study the geoglyphs
328
00:19:36,780 --> 00:19:38,880
in a scientific fashion.
329
00:19:38,880 --> 00:19:42,180
In the 1940s, this
enthusiast devoted her life
330
00:19:42,180 --> 00:19:44,550
to studying and
protecting the site.
331
00:19:44,550 --> 00:19:46,530
Without her work
and obstination,
332
00:19:46,530 --> 00:19:49,050
the lines would probably
have been destroyed.
333
00:19:53,860 --> 00:19:58,060
After many years of study, Maria
Reiche ended up with a theory
334
00:19:58,060 --> 00:20:00,520
that the lines are a
sort of star calendar,
335
00:20:00,520 --> 00:20:05,000
and their orientation
is linked to the stars.
336
00:20:05,000 --> 00:20:07,510
Maria Reiche discovered
that some of the lines
337
00:20:07,510 --> 00:20:10,090
pointed to the solstice,
like those which crossed
338
00:20:10,090 --> 00:20:11,270
the design of the spider.
339
00:20:17,730 --> 00:20:21,090
So are the Nazca Lines
an immense calendar
340
00:20:21,090 --> 00:20:23,775
drawn on the ground?
341
00:20:23,775 --> 00:20:27,735
[MUSIC PLAYING]
342
00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:34,500
Several hundred kilometers from
there on the Pacific coast,
343
00:20:34,500 --> 00:20:36,570
another geoglyph
can perhaps help
344
00:20:36,570 --> 00:20:40,200
us to understand the
mystery of the Nazca Lines.
345
00:20:40,200 --> 00:20:43,050
The Candelabro de Paracas
is now in the heart
346
00:20:43,050 --> 00:20:44,680
of a national park.
347
00:20:44,680 --> 00:20:46,650
Land access is
impossible, and you
348
00:20:46,650 --> 00:20:49,380
have to get there by boat
as thousands of tourists
349
00:20:49,380 --> 00:20:50,795
do each year.
350
00:20:50,795 --> 00:20:54,190
[BOAT ENGINE]
351
00:20:57,870 --> 00:21:00,580
>> Juan Carlos Heaton, the
director of the reserve,
352
00:21:00,580 --> 00:21:02,650
takes us to see the
famous Candelabra .
353
00:21:06,690 --> 00:21:08,760
>> Many research
workers have come here.
354
00:21:08,760 --> 00:21:14,160
One of them was Maria Reiche,
who was Peruvian and German.
355
00:21:14,160 --> 00:21:17,040
She undertook astronomical
and mathematical research
356
00:21:17,040 --> 00:21:20,510
on the lines and
shapes of Nazca.
357
00:21:20,510 --> 00:21:23,430
She tried to make a
connection between the symbols
358
00:21:23,430 --> 00:21:25,940
and an astronomical calendar
for the civilizations that
359
00:21:25,940 --> 00:21:26,740
lived here.
360
00:21:29,580 --> 00:21:32,370
In that context,
this figure is also
361
00:21:32,370 --> 00:21:35,940
associated with
the Nazca culture.
362
00:21:35,940 --> 00:21:39,300
The Candelabra has a lot to do
with astronomy and the Nazca
363
00:21:39,300 --> 00:21:43,115
Lines, a theory which other
scientists have confirmed.
364
00:21:46,710 --> 00:21:49,290
>> The Candelabra has all
the qualities of a compass.
365
00:21:54,970 --> 00:21:57,640
>> This could be the
Southern Cross seen by day.
366
00:21:57,640 --> 00:21:59,440
It has the same
direction with the top
367
00:21:59,440 --> 00:22:01,390
of the Candelabra
showing the south,
368
00:22:01,390 --> 00:22:05,650
and the base
signifying the north.
369
00:22:05,650 --> 00:22:07,870
It resembles the
Southern Cross exactly,
370
00:22:07,870 --> 00:22:09,060
according to Maria Reiche.
371
00:22:12,250 --> 00:22:14,680
So this design could
serve as a reference
372
00:22:14,680 --> 00:22:18,790
for daytime navigation.
373
00:22:18,790 --> 00:22:21,070
We could also say that
this design functions
374
00:22:21,070 --> 00:22:22,535
in the same way as a marker.
375
00:22:26,734 --> 00:22:29,810
>> This simple trace in the
ground is actually visible out
376
00:22:29,810 --> 00:22:32,682
at sea to a distance
of 20 kilometers,
377
00:22:32,682 --> 00:22:34,640
but it's impossible to
know whether it was made
378
00:22:34,640 --> 00:22:37,865
by navigators of antiquity
or by 17th century pirates.
379
00:22:42,400 --> 00:22:45,460
>> We don't know its exact date.
380
00:22:45,460 --> 00:22:51,720
Scientists can't tell if it
is 10,000 or 500 years old.
381
00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:54,700
But we do know that
the pre-Incan ancestors
382
00:22:54,700 --> 00:22:57,790
of Peruvians, as well
as the Incas themselves,
383
00:22:57,790 --> 00:23:01,480
were very good navigators.
384
00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:03,820
The whole coast of
Peru and South America
385
00:23:03,820 --> 00:23:06,130
was known to the
Peruvians of antiquity.
386
00:23:09,660 --> 00:23:12,580
>> The idea that Nazca is
an astronomical calendar is
387
00:23:12,580 --> 00:23:15,430
attractive, but the great
majority of lines don't point
388
00:23:15,430 --> 00:23:17,530
to any star or constellation.
389
00:23:17,530 --> 00:23:20,380
Since the geoglyphs are
often visible from far off,
390
00:23:20,380 --> 00:23:22,780
they've often been thought
of as a kind of sign post,
391
00:23:22,780 --> 00:23:25,406
and not only in the desert.
392
00:23:25,406 --> 00:23:28,822
[MUSIC PLAYING]
393
00:23:38,610 --> 00:23:41,580
English geoglyphs are
mostly white horses.
394
00:23:41,580 --> 00:23:44,620
There are nearly 20
across the country.
395
00:23:44,620 --> 00:23:47,380
Amongst the oldest is the
Uffington White Horse.
396
00:23:47,380 --> 00:23:49,600
It must be the first
in this long tradition,
397
00:23:49,600 --> 00:23:54,280
as it dates from between 1,400
and 1,600 years before our era,
398
00:23:54,280 --> 00:23:57,460
towards the end
of the Bronze Age.
399
00:23:57,460 --> 00:24:00,160
There are several mysteries
associated with the White
400
00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:02,050
Horse, and there
are many theories
401
00:24:02,050 --> 00:24:04,640
as to its significance.
402
00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:06,710
Harriet Vered is a historian.
403
00:24:06,710 --> 00:24:08,540
She knows the White Horse well.
404
00:24:08,540 --> 00:24:13,060
In her opinion, it is above
all a geographical marker.
405
00:24:13,060 --> 00:24:15,940
>> We're talking about
preliterate people who had no
406
00:24:15,940 --> 00:24:21,040
maps, no GPS, no
navigational equipment.
407
00:24:21,040 --> 00:24:23,080
This is the veil
of the White Horse.
408
00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:25,600
And of course,
from down there you
409
00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:29,350
actually get the best
view of the White Horse
410
00:24:29,350 --> 00:24:31,480
because the White Horse
isn't really supposed
411
00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,140
to be viewed from close.
412
00:24:35,140 --> 00:24:38,080
>> The horse can in fact be
seen from the whole valley.
413
00:24:38,080 --> 00:24:41,500
It has impressive dimensions,
over 100 meters long
414
00:24:41,500 --> 00:24:43,870
and 35 meters high.
415
00:24:43,870 --> 00:24:45,790
The white chalk stands
out so as to make
416
00:24:45,790 --> 00:24:48,760
the design visible from afar.
417
00:24:48,760 --> 00:24:51,580
>> Every now and then,
let's say every 10 miles,
418
00:24:51,580 --> 00:24:54,580
something like that, that
would be a day's journey,
419
00:24:54,580 --> 00:24:57,670
if you've got flocks of
animals for instance.
420
00:24:57,670 --> 00:24:59,470
So you would want junctions.
421
00:24:59,470 --> 00:25:01,660
You would want
sign posts saying,
422
00:25:01,660 --> 00:25:05,500
this is where you can stop
off and rest, and probably
423
00:25:05,500 --> 00:25:07,240
pay for it too.
424
00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:09,820
But you would have to
have somewhere for people
425
00:25:09,820 --> 00:25:14,230
and animals to stay overnight.
426
00:25:14,230 --> 00:25:18,235
So it must've been a sign post.
427
00:25:21,416 --> 00:25:26,762
[MUSIC PLAYING]
428
00:25:33,080 --> 00:25:35,690
>> The horse is such a good
reference point that it had
429
00:25:35,690 --> 00:25:38,150
to be covered up during
the Second World War.
430
00:25:38,150 --> 00:25:41,420
It was too easy to recognize
for enemy aircraft.
431
00:25:41,420 --> 00:25:45,470
And there is a second hypothesis
about what it represents.
432
00:25:45,470 --> 00:25:48,620
>> Actually, it's
probably not a horse.
433
00:25:48,620 --> 00:25:50,630
It's probably a dragon.
434
00:25:50,630 --> 00:25:51,950
They didn't call it polaris.
435
00:25:51,950 --> 00:25:53,680
They called it draconus.
436
00:25:53,680 --> 00:25:55,550
Draconus meaning dragon.
437
00:25:55,550 --> 00:25:58,770
So we think that from a
navigational point of view,
438
00:25:58,770 --> 00:26:01,970
the dragon was a very
important symbol.
439
00:26:01,970 --> 00:26:05,180
And this is why
we think that it's
440
00:26:05,180 --> 00:26:08,320
a dragon rather than a horse.
441
00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:10,540
>> Andy Foley is
the site's curator.
442
00:26:10,540 --> 00:26:13,660
He knows the legend well, and
what happened to the dragon
443
00:26:13,660 --> 00:26:16,650
with the arrival
of Christianity.
444
00:26:16,650 --> 00:26:21,540
>> Saint George and the
dragon had a fight on here.
445
00:26:21,540 --> 00:26:22,530
George won.
446
00:26:22,530 --> 00:26:23,760
He killed the dragon.
447
00:26:23,760 --> 00:26:26,610
The blood came forth, and
was so poisonous that it
448
00:26:26,610 --> 00:26:30,450
burnt the grass down here, and
that's why we have this mark.
449
00:26:30,450 --> 00:26:33,280
Nothing grows there because
of the dragon's blood, OK?
450
00:26:35,830 --> 00:26:38,810
>> Whether the figure is
of a horse or a dragon,
451
00:26:38,810 --> 00:26:43,050
its design is striking, very
refined, and very modern.
452
00:26:43,050 --> 00:26:46,780
>> The horse is, as
you say, very stylized.
453
00:26:46,780 --> 00:26:49,700
It's, as I say,
110 meters long as
454
00:26:49,700 --> 00:26:53,530
if it's always running
across these high hills
455
00:26:53,530 --> 00:26:55,492
up here that we have.
456
00:26:55,492 --> 00:26:59,760
This was done in the Bronze
Age or the Iron Age, 800 BC,
457
00:26:59,760 --> 00:27:00,910
a long time ago.
458
00:27:00,910 --> 00:27:04,600
But the people then were very
artistic, very stylistic.
459
00:27:04,600 --> 00:27:07,690
So yes, they could draw
wonderful things like this.
460
00:27:07,690 --> 00:27:11,380
They could make wonderful
rings and jewelry.
461
00:27:11,380 --> 00:27:12,850
So they're very stylistic.
462
00:27:12,850 --> 00:27:15,430
But they could be very
barbaric as well because
463
00:27:15,430 --> 00:27:18,920
in the hill fort behind
us, we found skeletons
464
00:27:18,920 --> 00:27:22,060
with the arms and the legs
and the head all chopped off.
465
00:27:22,060 --> 00:27:27,182
So they could be beautiful
stylistic but also barbaric.
466
00:27:27,182 --> 00:27:30,990
[MUSIC PLAYING]
467
00:27:35,290 --> 00:27:37,880
>> Geoglyphs are mysterious
and have given rise to many
468
00:27:37,880 --> 00:27:38,690
legends.
469
00:27:38,690 --> 00:27:41,150
But it is always difficult
to find the truth
470
00:27:41,150 --> 00:27:43,730
amongst the different
conflicting theories.
471
00:27:43,730 --> 00:27:45,500
While some seem to
have been reference
472
00:27:45,500 --> 00:27:48,080
points for past travelers,
this explanation
473
00:27:48,080 --> 00:27:50,210
doesn't fit the Nazca
Lines, which are
474
00:27:50,210 --> 00:27:51,410
hard to see from the ground.
475
00:27:54,910 --> 00:27:57,190
However, archaeologists
are interested
476
00:27:57,190 --> 00:28:01,330
by the special relation of the
Nazca civilization with water.
477
00:28:01,330 --> 00:28:05,148
One theory links the
lines to irrigation.
478
00:28:05,148 --> 00:28:09,116
[MUSIC PLAYING]
479
00:28:11,600 --> 00:28:13,820
Alex from the
Ministry of Culture
480
00:28:13,820 --> 00:28:16,397
takes us to visit the
Cantalloc aqueducts.
481
00:28:23,860 --> 00:28:28,918
>> The ancient Nazca were
great hydraulic engineers.
482
00:28:28,918 --> 00:28:32,320
They built irrigation
channels, one
483
00:28:32,320 --> 00:28:36,155
of them being the aqueducts of
Cantalloc which is still in use
484
00:28:36,155 --> 00:28:36,955
today.
485
00:28:39,860 --> 00:28:42,940
>> The Nazca civilization was
in the middle of the desert.
486
00:28:42,940 --> 00:28:45,190
The balance with
nature was precarious,
487
00:28:45,190 --> 00:28:48,010
and finding water
was a daily worry.
488
00:28:48,010 --> 00:28:51,310
Droughts and climate variations
brought about catastrophes
489
00:28:51,310 --> 00:28:53,276
and famines for the population.
490
00:28:56,540 --> 00:28:59,580
The Nazca did everything they
could so as not to depend
491
00:28:59,580 --> 00:29:01,150
on rare rainfalls.
492
00:29:01,150 --> 00:29:03,705
Especially, they built
complex irrigation systems.
493
00:29:07,950 --> 00:29:10,940
Mastering irrigation allowed
the Nazca civilization
494
00:29:10,940 --> 00:29:12,980
to develop agriculture
and to have
495
00:29:12,980 --> 00:29:18,330
an impressively large population
for such a desert environment.
496
00:29:18,330 --> 00:29:22,630
Thanks to this, thousands of
people lived around the city.
497
00:29:22,630 --> 00:29:25,930
Their wells, still visible,
are incredible constructions
498
00:29:25,930 --> 00:29:28,490
as much for their design as
for their way of working.
499
00:29:36,700 --> 00:29:40,970
>> It has a spiral shape
which makes access easier,
500
00:29:40,970 --> 00:29:43,630
which is very useful
for periodic cleaning
501
00:29:43,630 --> 00:29:46,120
as the villagers have to
work to keep the water clear.
502
00:29:48,910 --> 00:29:53,570
When the earth moves, as it does
in earthquakes, for example,
503
00:29:53,570 --> 00:29:56,850
then there are
stones that collapse
504
00:29:56,850 --> 00:29:58,860
and there are branches
which block the passages.
505
00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:09,000
>> The spiral shape not only
means that the underground
506
00:30:09,000 --> 00:30:12,210
channels can be maintained, but
also mean that a lot of people
507
00:30:12,210 --> 00:30:16,030
can get into work
at the same time.
508
00:30:16,030 --> 00:30:18,520
According to the partisans
of the water theory,
509
00:30:18,520 --> 00:30:21,820
some of the marks on the plain
follow the underground network.
510
00:30:21,820 --> 00:30:25,480
Others mark out
groundwater sites.
511
00:30:25,480 --> 00:30:28,450
Cults would move around on
these lines calling for rain,
512
00:30:28,450 --> 00:30:32,176
and leaving offerings to ask
for more favorable climate.
513
00:30:32,176 --> 00:30:36,160
[MUSIC PLAYING]
514
00:30:42,640 --> 00:30:45,070
But once again, a
recent study shows
515
00:30:45,070 --> 00:30:48,500
that most of the signs and
marks are not linked to water.
516
00:30:48,500 --> 00:30:50,950
While water was vital
to the Nazca culture,
517
00:30:50,950 --> 00:30:53,430
it was not the main reason
for the creation of the lines.
518
00:31:00,320 --> 00:31:04,600
It's incredibly complicated to
try and explain the geoglyphs.
519
00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:07,420
The marks have remained, but
the memory of their creators
520
00:31:07,420 --> 00:31:08,530
has faded.
521
00:31:08,530 --> 00:31:11,500
In the absence of reliable
archaeological data,
522
00:31:11,500 --> 00:31:15,054
it's difficult to
resolve their mysteries.
523
00:31:15,054 --> 00:31:18,470
[MUSIC PLAYING]
524
00:31:25,790 --> 00:31:28,460
The little village of
Cerne Abbas in England
525
00:31:28,460 --> 00:31:33,740
also has a chalk geoglyph,
a giant of 55 meters by 50,
526
00:31:33,740 --> 00:31:37,800
representing a naked
man armed with a club.
527
00:31:37,800 --> 00:31:39,700
To distinguish between
different theories,
528
00:31:39,700 --> 00:31:44,220
here an original
method was tested.
529
00:31:44,220 --> 00:31:46,200
For years, it was
thought that this figure
530
00:31:46,200 --> 00:31:47,880
dated from pre-history.
531
00:31:47,880 --> 00:31:50,070
But 30 years ago,
it was realized
532
00:31:50,070 --> 00:31:55,720
that there was no indication
of its existence before 1694.
533
00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:56,520
>> Yes.
534
00:31:56,520 --> 00:31:58,436
The first reference we
have to the Stone Giant
535
00:31:58,436 --> 00:32:01,230
is in the church warden's
accounts for 1694,
536
00:32:01,230 --> 00:32:03,810
which was discovered by Vivian
Vale here actually in Cerne
537
00:32:03,810 --> 00:32:04,950
Abbas.
538
00:32:04,950 --> 00:32:09,270
"For repairing the
giant, three shillings."
539
00:32:09,270 --> 00:32:11,610
>> The absence of
historical records aroused
540
00:32:11,610 --> 00:32:13,200
Katherine's curiosity.
541
00:32:13,200 --> 00:32:16,410
She was then working at the
University of Bournemouth.
542
00:32:16,410 --> 00:32:19,050
Katherine decided to
organize a public trial
543
00:32:19,050 --> 00:32:20,550
where different
specialists could
544
00:32:20,550 --> 00:32:23,970
come to defend their opinions
about the giant's origins.
545
00:32:23,970 --> 00:32:27,580
Two main hypotheses stood out.
546
00:32:27,580 --> 00:32:30,540
>> The figure looks prehistoric,
and so it could belong
547
00:32:30,540 --> 00:32:33,570
to the [INAUDIBLE]
pre-Roman period,
548
00:32:33,570 --> 00:32:38,790
as an ancient Celtic warrior
god waving his club around.
549
00:32:38,790 --> 00:32:42,630
But it has been suggested by one
or two authorities that in fact
550
00:32:42,630 --> 00:32:46,080
it was cut out on the
orders of Denzil Holles,
551
00:32:46,080 --> 00:32:48,690
who was lone [? overson
? ] estate in the 1640s,
552
00:32:48,690 --> 00:32:51,790
'50s, during the
English Civil War.
553
00:32:51,790 --> 00:32:57,260
And Denzil Holles started off as
being much pro Oliver Cromwell,
554
00:32:57,260 --> 00:33:00,480
led the revolution
against the king.
555
00:33:00,480 --> 00:33:04,680
He saw the slaughter
and the hatred
556
00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:08,070
and the damage and
changed sides and decided
557
00:33:08,070 --> 00:33:09,750
to support the king.
558
00:33:09,750 --> 00:33:14,220
When he finally
returned home in 1654,
559
00:33:14,220 --> 00:33:17,180
he had commissioned, he
had cut on the hillside
560
00:33:17,180 --> 00:33:21,210
this satirical image
of Oliver Cromwell,
561
00:33:21,210 --> 00:33:23,850
because Oliver Cromwell
was known to his supporters
562
00:33:23,850 --> 00:33:26,790
in the form of the
pagan god Hercules,
563
00:33:26,790 --> 00:33:29,700
the god of great strength.
564
00:33:29,700 --> 00:33:32,280
So in that sense, it's
a political lampoon.
565
00:33:35,020 --> 00:33:38,430
>> After the debates, a vote was
held to decide on the favorite
566
00:33:38,430 --> 00:33:39,330
theory.
567
00:33:39,330 --> 00:33:41,940
The score was close
between the two theories.
568
00:33:41,940 --> 00:33:44,190
While some continue to
believe the giant is
569
00:33:44,190 --> 00:33:46,320
several thousand
years old, the theory
570
00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:49,910
of a gigantic satirical drawing
seemed credible to many people.
571
00:33:52,920 --> 00:33:55,530
In England, this design
has passed into posterity
572
00:33:55,530 --> 00:33:57,030
for another reason.
573
00:33:57,030 --> 00:33:59,430
This is surely because
of the impressive size
574
00:33:59,430 --> 00:34:01,797
of a certain portion
of his anatomy.
575
00:34:06,370 --> 00:34:09,420
>> Well, the giant, of course,
is a powerful image of male
576
00:34:09,420 --> 00:34:12,320
fertility, of male strength.
577
00:34:12,320 --> 00:34:14,310
Virility, I think,
is the right word.
578
00:34:14,310 --> 00:34:16,650
And therefore one
does understand
579
00:34:16,650 --> 00:34:19,780
that sometimes courting couples
or women who have difficulty
580
00:34:19,780 --> 00:34:24,170
in conceiving come to
spend time at the giant,
581
00:34:24,170 --> 00:34:27,100
and they may be fortunate.
582
00:34:27,100 --> 00:34:31,060
[MUSIC PLAYING]
583
00:34:33,040 --> 00:34:35,969
>> The Cerne Abbas Giant, a
powerful image which a lot
584
00:34:35,969 --> 00:34:39,438
of adverts have used
to sell their brand.
585
00:34:39,438 --> 00:34:43,302
[MUSIC PLAYING]
586
00:34:47,270 --> 00:34:48,780
>> There are a
good many of those.
587
00:34:48,780 --> 00:34:49,580
Here's another one.
588
00:34:49,580 --> 00:34:51,056
Here he is.
589
00:34:51,056 --> 00:34:55,000
As an image, he's used quite
a lot in all sorts of ways.
590
00:34:55,000 --> 00:34:58,209
As I say, he's said to be the
only pornographic material
591
00:34:58,209 --> 00:34:59,750
which is accepted
by the post office,
592
00:34:59,750 --> 00:35:02,120
indeed by the
tourist authorities.
593
00:35:02,120 --> 00:35:06,001
So yes, he's used quite often
for this type of context.
594
00:35:06,001 --> 00:35:10,771
[MUSIC PLAYING]
595
00:35:13,640 --> 00:35:16,270
>> The giant is a
geoglyph with many faces,
596
00:35:16,270 --> 00:35:18,560
a satirical and
political design,
597
00:35:18,560 --> 00:35:21,950
making prayers come true,
being an advertising mascot.
598
00:35:21,950 --> 00:35:24,140
Is it possible that
the Nazca Lines also
599
00:35:24,140 --> 00:35:27,096
had multiple functions for
the region's inhabitants?
600
00:35:27,096 --> 00:35:30,358
[MUSIC PLAYING]
601
00:35:32,690 --> 00:35:36,140
In the 1980s, a major
discovery reshuffled the deck
602
00:35:36,140 --> 00:35:38,030
and opened up new perspectives.
603
00:35:38,030 --> 00:35:40,850
The Citadel of Cahuachi.
604
00:35:40,850 --> 00:35:45,190
What can be seen today is just
a tiny part of a vast complex.
605
00:35:45,190 --> 00:35:48,370
Soledad from the Archaeological
Service takes us there.
606
00:35:54,370 --> 00:35:58,430
>> Excavations at
Cahuachi began in 1982.
607
00:35:58,430 --> 00:36:02,020
But the entire
surface was buried.
608
00:36:02,020 --> 00:36:05,740
Now we presume that just 5%
of the total archaeological
609
00:36:05,740 --> 00:36:08,770
complex has been
brought to light.
610
00:36:08,770 --> 00:36:13,870
So of course, there's a lot
more to dig up and discover.
611
00:36:13,870 --> 00:36:16,750
>> Since they lack the means,
archaeologists are advancing
612
00:36:16,750 --> 00:36:18,670
very slowly at the site.
613
00:36:18,670 --> 00:36:22,890
But its purpose can
already be determined.
614
00:36:22,890 --> 00:36:27,160
Cahuachi isn't a citadel as was
thought when it was discovered.
615
00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:30,280
It was a religious center
which had incredible importance
616
00:36:30,280 --> 00:36:31,520
in its time.
617
00:36:31,520 --> 00:36:34,420
It stretched over
24 square kilometers
618
00:36:34,420 --> 00:36:37,174
and welcomed thousands
of pilgrims each year.
619
00:36:37,174 --> 00:36:38,590
At the time, it
was the equivalent
620
00:36:38,590 --> 00:36:41,820
of Mecca or the Vatican.
621
00:36:41,820 --> 00:36:43,840
>> There's a relationship
between the lines
622
00:36:43,840 --> 00:36:46,588
and the citadel.
623
00:36:46,588 --> 00:36:49,480
The geoglyphs are found in
front of the most important
624
00:36:49,480 --> 00:36:53,880
ceremonial centers on the plain.
625
00:36:53,880 --> 00:36:55,510
But at the back
part of the citadel,
626
00:36:55,510 --> 00:37:00,010
we've also found a variety of
lines and trapezoids, geoglyphs
627
00:37:00,010 --> 00:37:04,420
which have an important
link with Cahuachi.
628
00:37:04,420 --> 00:37:06,880
The same civilization
which build the citadel
629
00:37:06,880 --> 00:37:07,860
made the geoglyphs.
630
00:37:12,400 --> 00:37:14,620
As for their impressive
size, the people
631
00:37:14,620 --> 00:37:17,080
here must have considered
that their gods could
632
00:37:17,080 --> 00:37:18,750
contemplate the geoglyphs.
633
00:37:21,910 --> 00:37:25,360
They were offerings to the gods,
made so they could see them.
634
00:37:29,050 --> 00:37:31,660
>> People came from very
far away on pilgrimage,
635
00:37:31,660 --> 00:37:34,950
and thousands of people lived
here to welcome the visitors.
636
00:37:34,950 --> 00:37:36,810
The key to better
understanding of the lines
637
00:37:36,810 --> 00:37:40,380
seems to be to better understand
the whole of this civilization,
638
00:37:40,380 --> 00:37:43,940
but the Nazca did not only
leave behind their geoglyphs.
639
00:37:43,940 --> 00:37:46,440
The lines are just one of
the many means of expression
640
00:37:46,440 --> 00:37:48,902
used by this civilization.
641
00:37:48,902 --> 00:37:51,060
Giuseppe Orefici is
one of the region's
642
00:37:51,060 --> 00:37:52,980
principal archaeologists.
643
00:37:55,560 --> 00:37:58,890
>> As we've seen, the Nazca
civilization was impressive
644
00:37:58,890 --> 00:38:02,130
because it had many forms
of expression ranging from
645
00:38:02,130 --> 00:38:07,170
ceramics to geoglyphs, as
well as all the other systems
646
00:38:07,170 --> 00:38:08,215
of expression.
647
00:38:11,690 --> 00:38:15,240
This shows us the grandeur
of this civilization which,
648
00:38:15,240 --> 00:38:18,330
based on a theocracy, dominated
a very large territory
649
00:38:18,330 --> 00:38:22,710
for over 1,000 years.
650
00:38:22,710 --> 00:38:25,320
>> The Nazca civilization
was very advanced from
651
00:38:25,320 --> 00:38:29,160
a technological point of view,
not just in irrigation but also
652
00:38:29,160 --> 00:38:32,230
in construction, mathematics,
music, agriculture,
653
00:38:32,230 --> 00:38:33,030
and pottery.
654
00:38:36,330 --> 00:38:39,990
>> The iconographic themes which
are found in the Nazca Lines
655
00:38:39,990 --> 00:38:42,535
show us that they had a great
ability to reproduce scale
656
00:38:42,535 --> 00:38:43,335
drawings.
657
00:38:46,110 --> 00:38:48,360
This was because they
managed to succeed
658
00:38:48,360 --> 00:38:52,410
in reproducing using gigantic
lines the iconography found
659
00:38:52,410 --> 00:38:53,867
on ceramics.
660
00:38:53,867 --> 00:38:57,346
[MUSIC PLAYING]
661
00:39:05,800 --> 00:39:08,230
>> With such a rich
and varied culture,
662
00:39:08,230 --> 00:39:11,590
the diversity and precision of
the Nazca design seems a little
663
00:39:11,590 --> 00:39:13,520
less astonishing.
664
00:39:13,520 --> 00:39:15,690
But despite all
these discoveries,
665
00:39:15,690 --> 00:39:18,270
the Nazca Lines keep
most of their secrets,
666
00:39:18,270 --> 00:39:20,340
and it has to be accepted
that some of them
667
00:39:20,340 --> 00:39:23,490
will always remain a mystery.
668
00:39:23,490 --> 00:39:26,280
Doubtless in the years to
come, sleeping geoglyphs
669
00:39:26,280 --> 00:39:28,920
will be discovered, especially
thanks to the growing
670
00:39:28,920 --> 00:39:31,590
precision of satellite imagery.
671
00:39:31,590 --> 00:39:34,380
So they will continue to
feed legend and generate
672
00:39:34,380 --> 00:39:36,890
stories of the supernatural.
673
00:39:36,890 --> 00:39:39,300
But the geoglyphs offer
us one last enigma.
674
00:39:39,300 --> 00:39:40,680
What do we do with them now?
675
00:39:46,540 --> 00:39:49,110
At Nazca, some
sites are protected,
676
00:39:49,110 --> 00:39:51,330
but there are so many
designs spread out
677
00:39:51,330 --> 00:39:54,810
over such a vast surface that
some have not even been listed.
678
00:39:57,680 --> 00:40:00,870
And in Chile, on the
flanks of Cerros Pintados,
679
00:40:00,870 --> 00:40:05,010
the great vulnerability
of the geoglyphs is clear.
680
00:40:05,010 --> 00:40:07,430
The enormous fresco is
pierced with holes that
681
00:40:07,430 --> 00:40:09,780
have degraded the geoglyphs.
682
00:40:09,780 --> 00:40:11,700
This is because of
mining prospecting,
683
00:40:11,700 --> 00:40:14,700
looking for saltpeter deposits
at the end of the 19th century.
684
00:40:19,810 --> 00:40:22,720
>> Here we can see the traces
of those which were degraded
685
00:40:22,720 --> 00:40:28,030
and destroyed because people
at the time of saltpeter mining
686
00:40:28,030 --> 00:40:30,635
didn't have the slightest idea
of the value of this giant
687
00:40:30,635 --> 00:40:31,435
message.
688
00:40:34,170 --> 00:40:37,450
They called these places
the Painted Mountains,
689
00:40:37,450 --> 00:40:39,740
but in reality
they're not paintings
690
00:40:39,740 --> 00:40:41,900
and this has nothing to
do with the original name
691
00:40:41,900 --> 00:40:42,700
of the mountains.
692
00:40:45,465 --> 00:40:48,910
This shows their ignorance of
the value of the geoglyphs,
693
00:40:48,910 --> 00:40:50,110
which are so important.
694
00:40:53,050 --> 00:40:56,320
Today, at least the intention
is to protect these.
695
00:41:00,070 --> 00:41:03,100
Because these ceremonial
sites were sacred,
696
00:41:03,100 --> 00:41:06,340
they need to be given
back that value.
697
00:41:06,340 --> 00:41:08,600
As these sites are
returned to us,
698
00:41:08,600 --> 00:41:10,630
we'll re-establish
the great harmony
699
00:41:10,630 --> 00:41:12,130
with nature that once existed.
700
00:41:21,560 --> 00:41:24,080
>> But protecting
them isn't enough.
701
00:41:24,080 --> 00:41:28,837
Most geoglyphs risk disappearing
if they are not maintained.
702
00:41:28,837 --> 00:41:32,749
[MUSIC PLAYING]
703
00:41:40,580 --> 00:41:43,670
On the same site as the
Nazcas, an even more
704
00:41:43,670 --> 00:41:45,980
ancient civilization
had begun to create
705
00:41:45,980 --> 00:41:49,550
geoglyphs, the Paracas.
706
00:41:49,550 --> 00:41:51,410
These designs had
almost disappeared
707
00:41:51,410 --> 00:41:54,800
and were very difficult to
see, so a restoration campaign
708
00:41:54,800 --> 00:41:56,510
was begun.
709
00:41:56,510 --> 00:41:59,510
Johny Isla, Director of
the Archaeological Service,
710
00:41:59,510 --> 00:42:03,890
comes with his team to
restore the precious designs.
711
00:42:03,890 --> 00:42:06,380
>> What we're going to do is
take some photographs so that
712
00:42:06,380 --> 00:42:08,000
we can get a scale.
713
00:42:08,000 --> 00:42:11,170
After that, the piles of stones
weren't there originally,
714
00:42:11,170 --> 00:42:12,539
so we'll take them away.
715
00:42:12,539 --> 00:42:14,330
Practically, that's
what we're going to do.
716
00:42:20,200 --> 00:42:23,690
At the Palpa site, we've
identified nearly 80 groups
717
00:42:23,690 --> 00:42:26,350
of figures of this type.
718
00:42:26,350 --> 00:42:29,220
They were all
disappearing because they
719
00:42:29,220 --> 00:42:31,550
had been made on
the mountain slopes
720
00:42:31,550 --> 00:42:35,210
where there's a lot of erosion,
sometimes rain, people passing
721
00:42:35,210 --> 00:42:38,130
by, earth movements, and
also dust and wind which
722
00:42:38,130 --> 00:42:38,930
caused erosion.
723
00:42:42,530 --> 00:42:47,280
We identified several different
groups, such as this one here,
724
00:42:47,280 --> 00:42:49,550
which has been restored
by putting the stones back
725
00:42:49,550 --> 00:42:52,280
in place, which makes
the figure more visible.
726
00:42:54,870 --> 00:42:57,440
Basically what we're doing
is lifting the stones which
727
00:42:57,440 --> 00:43:00,230
have fallen inside the
figures and putting them back
728
00:43:00,230 --> 00:43:04,100
on the sides so that the figure
keeps its original contours,
729
00:43:04,100 --> 00:43:06,350
and in that way it can
be seen from far off.
730
00:43:09,700 --> 00:43:12,040
It's a technique which
we use for buildings,
731
00:43:12,040 --> 00:43:14,390
but with geoglyphs
it's the first time
732
00:43:14,390 --> 00:43:17,090
that we've used it to bring them
back to their original state.
733
00:43:21,170 --> 00:43:23,720
Sometimes we have to clear
away the earth that builds up
734
00:43:23,720 --> 00:43:27,830
on the stone with
brushes and nothing else,
735
00:43:27,830 --> 00:43:30,320
and in some cases when
we're restoring them
736
00:43:30,320 --> 00:43:33,200
we use a little water to
clean the stones so as
737
00:43:33,200 --> 00:43:36,540
to make them more visible.
738
00:43:36,540 --> 00:43:38,170
Nothing more.
739
00:43:38,170 --> 00:43:41,730
It's a very simple technique,
but it takes a lot of time.
740
00:43:50,055 --> 00:43:54,110
>> We clean them carefully, just
enough to be able to visualize
741
00:43:54,110 --> 00:43:58,045
them without altering them.
742
00:43:58,045 --> 00:44:01,496
[MUSIC PLAYING]
743
00:44:22,730 --> 00:44:26,000
>> Maintenance and restoration
are also part of daily life
744
00:44:26,000 --> 00:44:28,760
around the Uffington
White Horse.
745
00:44:28,760 --> 00:44:33,110
More than 250,000 people come
each year to visit the site
746
00:44:33,110 --> 00:44:38,234
and to do all sorts of strange
things inspired by the legends.
747
00:44:38,234 --> 00:44:40,230
>> Nice.
748
00:44:40,230 --> 00:44:44,120
One is that if you stand in the
eye of the horse and you spin
749
00:44:44,120 --> 00:44:47,660
round three times, it
will bring you luck.
750
00:44:47,660 --> 00:44:51,380
But if I see you, I
will tell you off.
751
00:44:51,380 --> 00:44:52,430
It's not good.
752
00:44:52,430 --> 00:44:54,430
Erosion is one of
our biggest problems.
753
00:44:54,430 --> 00:44:59,465
I mean, all this, this is
because of people stepping.
754
00:44:59,465 --> 00:45:02,480
We ask don't step on the
horse, so they step here.
755
00:45:02,480 --> 00:45:06,530
And then you multiply
this by thousands.
756
00:45:06,530 --> 00:45:09,110
This is why you get marks
like this and like that.
757
00:45:09,110 --> 00:45:12,240
It's where people step.
758
00:45:12,240 --> 00:45:13,040
Every time.
759
00:45:13,040 --> 00:45:15,440
That's a step, you see?
760
00:45:15,440 --> 00:45:18,560
And that's the problem.
761
00:45:18,560 --> 00:45:20,670
But it keeps me busy.
762
00:45:20,670 --> 00:45:24,080
There is always
work to do here, OK?
763
00:45:24,080 --> 00:45:26,600
>> But there's no question
of closing the site.
764
00:45:26,600 --> 00:45:29,870
The powers that be want people
to have access to the horse
765
00:45:29,870 --> 00:45:31,170
and to know its history.
766
00:45:34,770 --> 00:45:38,030
So the geoglyph has to
be maintained every year.
767
00:45:38,030 --> 00:45:40,640
400 people work in
relay over two days
768
00:45:40,640 --> 00:45:43,720
to renew the surface
level of chalk.
769
00:45:43,720 --> 00:45:46,390
>> This is how we
chalk the horse.
770
00:45:46,390 --> 00:45:49,610
The method hasn't changed
in thousands of years.
771
00:45:49,610 --> 00:45:51,020
It's exactly the same.
772
00:45:51,020 --> 00:45:52,270
This is our technology.
773
00:45:55,520 --> 00:46:00,350
We could, if we want, today
the men who make the roads,
774
00:46:00,350 --> 00:46:03,600
they have the pneumatic--
775
00:46:03,600 --> 00:46:04,670
you know?
776
00:46:04,670 --> 00:46:08,540
Yes, you could do that here,
but it's not the same, is it?
777
00:46:08,540 --> 00:46:09,920
It's not the story.
778
00:46:09,920 --> 00:46:11,120
We want to do it.
779
00:46:11,120 --> 00:46:13,130
We want to keep tradition alive.
780
00:46:13,130 --> 00:46:14,550
That's what it's all about.
781
00:46:14,550 --> 00:46:17,450
This is our heritage,
the heritage of England.
782
00:46:17,450 --> 00:46:19,020
So we want to keep it.
783
00:46:19,020 --> 00:46:20,990
We want to use
people, not machines.
784
00:46:23,660 --> 00:46:26,630
>> The Uffington White Horse
has thus been looked after from
785
00:46:26,630 --> 00:46:30,410
generation to generation
for over 3,000 years.
786
00:46:30,410 --> 00:46:32,570
Elsewhere in the
country, other geoglyphs
787
00:46:32,570 --> 00:46:34,790
have been lost for
lack of maintenance,
788
00:46:34,790 --> 00:46:38,420
and covered back
over by vegetation.
789
00:46:38,420 --> 00:46:40,520
Today, English Hill
Figures are mainly
790
00:46:40,520 --> 00:46:46,040
looked after by institutions
or groups of local inhabitants.
791
00:46:46,040 --> 00:46:48,610
Some are still made,
keeping the tradition alive.
792
00:46:52,330 --> 00:46:54,730
The latest was
made in 2006, near
793
00:46:54,730 --> 00:46:56,620
to the Channel Tunnel entrance.
794
00:46:56,620 --> 00:47:00,540
[MUSIC PLAYING]
795
00:47:10,840 --> 00:47:14,310
In 1990, Katherine launched
a project with her students.
796
00:47:24,050 --> 00:47:25,890
>> In the months
following the trial,
797
00:47:25,890 --> 00:47:29,010
I thought it would be an
interesting thing to do
798
00:47:29,010 --> 00:47:33,030
to conduct some exercise
in experimental archeology,
799
00:47:33,030 --> 00:47:37,340
and to tape out a
giantess, a Hill Figure.
800
00:47:41,010 --> 00:47:41,970
She is the same.
801
00:47:41,970 --> 00:47:44,190
She's much the same height.
802
00:47:44,190 --> 00:47:45,350
She is slimmer.
803
00:47:45,350 --> 00:47:48,120
She is a mirrored version
of him, quite literally.
804
00:47:48,120 --> 00:47:50,890
But of course without
the same accouterments
805
00:47:50,890 --> 00:47:55,440
that the male has, although
she's recognizably female.
806
00:47:55,440 --> 00:47:57,900
>> To respect proportions
and guide the design,
807
00:47:57,900 --> 00:48:01,170
Katherine and her
team used a grid.
808
00:48:01,170 --> 00:48:03,480
Creating a geoglyph was
an intense experience
809
00:48:03,480 --> 00:48:06,390
for several hours, which
allowed them to put themselves
810
00:48:06,390 --> 00:48:09,720
into the shoes of and to
better understand the creators
811
00:48:09,720 --> 00:48:12,840
of the original work.
812
00:48:12,840 --> 00:48:14,430
>> As we discovered
with the giantess,
813
00:48:14,430 --> 00:48:16,480
they're not
difficult to lay out.
814
00:48:16,480 --> 00:48:20,950
This is not an exercise
which is too difficult.
815
00:48:20,950 --> 00:48:22,800
It doesn't take long to do.
816
00:48:22,800 --> 00:48:24,900
I'm sure the creator,
whoever it was,
817
00:48:24,900 --> 00:48:26,750
definitely saw the end
result of his work.
818
00:48:26,750 --> 00:48:27,870
Yes, of course he did.
819
00:48:27,870 --> 00:48:30,440
And the people who helped
him to dig out the figure.
820
00:48:30,440 --> 00:48:31,490
Yes, of course they did.
821
00:48:31,490 --> 00:48:34,470
Didn't take long.
822
00:48:34,470 --> 00:48:37,290
>> Designing and creating
geoglyphs remains a living
823
00:48:37,290 --> 00:48:38,340
tradition.
824
00:48:38,340 --> 00:48:39,840
And although it's
the artists who
825
00:48:39,840 --> 00:48:42,030
practice land art
who come closest
826
00:48:42,030 --> 00:48:44,280
to the works of
our ancestors, we
827
00:48:44,280 --> 00:48:46,890
create geoglyphs
all over the planet,
828
00:48:46,890 --> 00:48:49,750
sometimes without realizing it.
829
00:48:49,750 --> 00:48:52,960
Here, it's the grid pattern
of streets in a United States
830
00:48:52,960 --> 00:48:54,540
ghost town.
831
00:48:54,540 --> 00:48:57,460
There, a satellite staging
marker in the Chinese Gobi
832
00:48:57,460 --> 00:48:58,260
Desert.
833
00:49:02,180 --> 00:49:05,990
Geoglyphs might seem to merely
be historical curiosities,
834
00:49:05,990 --> 00:49:08,900
but they are also the
last unique vestiges
835
00:49:08,900 --> 00:49:10,384
of some civilizations.
836
00:49:14,700 --> 00:49:19,410
Will what we create today
also voyage through history?
837
00:49:19,410 --> 00:49:21,800
What will this teach
those who study us
838
00:49:21,800 --> 00:49:26,120
in the thousands
of years to come?
839
00:49:26,120 --> 00:49:30,830
Will these be the only traces
we leave behind us if we vanish?
840
00:49:30,830 --> 00:50:21,394
[MUSIC PLAYING]
68174
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