THE GUARDIAN OF THE STARS

Elbie Gimble

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Peru - The Guardian of the Stars

(Entries in alphabetical order)

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Archaeologist: A scientist who studies human history and prehistory through the excavation and analysis of artifacts and other physical remains. Their work helps us understand ancient cultures, societies, and human behavior. They carefully document and interpret everything they find, from pottery shards to entire cities, to reconstruct the past.

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Atacama: (SEE Map) A plateau in South America, located on the Pacific coast of Peru and Chile. It is considered one of the driest places on Earth, with some areas having virtually no rainfall. This extreme dryness has preserved ancient artifacts and even mummified remains, making it a place of great interest to scientists.

Biplane: A type of fixed-wing aircraft that has two main wings stacked one above the other. This design provides more lift than a single-wing aircraft, which was crucial for early aviation. Biplanes were common in the early 20th century and were used for various purposes, including exploration and, in some cases, aerial surveys of remote regions.

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Bolivia: (SEE Map) A landlocked country in western-central South America. It is known for its diverse geography, which includes the Andes Mountains, the Amazon Basin, and the Atacama Desert. Its history is shaped by a rich mix of indigenous cultures and Spanish colonial influence.

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Callao: (SEE Map) A major port city in Peru, located on the Pacific coast. It serves as the main seaport for the country's capital, Lima. Historically, it has been a crucial hub for trade and transportation, connecting inland regions of South America to the rest of the world via sea routes.

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Dr. Toribio Mejía Xesspe: A Peruvian archaeologist known for his early research into the Nazca lines. While others focused on their astronomical purpose, he was among the first to hypothesize that the lines were waylines, or sacred pathways used by ancient Nazca people for ceremonial walks. His work was fundamental to the study of the geoglyphs. Lizard: Liolaemus nazca, commonly known as the Nazca lizard, is a species of lizard native to the Nazca Desert in Peru. This small reptile is part of a very diverse genus (Liolaemus) that is found throughout South America. Its presence in the region is a small part of the desert's unique ecosystem.

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Nazca Desert: (SEE Map) A region in southern Peru known for its extreme dryness and flat terrain. It is the location of the famous Nazca lines, a series of ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert floor. The stable climate of the desert has helped preserve these intricate drawings for centuries.

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Nazca Lines: (SEE Diagrams) A series of massive geoglyphs created by the Nazca culture in the Nazca Desert of Peru. They were created by removing the reddish-brown stones to reveal the lighter-colored soil beneath. The drawings depict various animals (like hummingbirds and monkeys), geometric shapes, and stylized human figures. Their purpose remains a subject of debate among archaeologists.

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Pareidolia: A psychological phenomenon where the brain perceives a recognizable pattern or image in a random or ambiguous visual stimulus. For example, seeing faces in clouds or shapes in the Nazca lines that resemble familiar figures. It is the reason some people see constellations in the stars, or animals in rock formations.

Peking, China: The historical name for modern-day Beijing, the capital of the People's Republic of China today. (SEE Elbie’s Field Notes from The Secret of the Steppes)

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Peru: (SEE Map) A country in western South America known for its diverse landscapes, including the Andes Mountains, the Amazon rainforest, and the coastal desert. It is famous for its ancient civilizations, most notably the Inca Empire, and for archaeological sites like Machu Picchu and the Nazca lines.

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Black Scorpion: Tityus asthenes, or the Peruvian Black Scorpion, is a species of scorpion native to Peru. Like other scorpions, it has a segmented tail with a stinger and a pair of pincers. They are known to inhabit arid and desert regions, including parts of the Nazca and Atacama deserts.

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Desert Fox: Lycalopex sechurae, the Peruvian Desert Fox, or Sechuran fox, is a species of fox native to the coastal desert region of Peru and

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Ecuador. It is a small canid adapted to living in harsh, arid environments. It plays an important role in the local ecosystem by controlling populations of rodents and insects.

Screech Owl: Megascops roboratus, the Peruvian Screech-Owl is a species of owl found in the Andes Mountains of Peru and Bolivia. Like other screech owls, it is a small, nocturnal bird of prey known for its distinctive hooting calls. It primarily preys on insects and small vertebrates.

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Pictographs: (SEE Diagrams) A pictorial symbol for a word or phrase. It is a form of writing that uses images to convey meaning, rather than letters or sounds. Ancient civilizations around the world used pictographs to record history and communicate ideas, often by carving or painting them on rocks or cave walls.

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Puquios: An ancient system of aqueducts in the Nazca region of Peru. They consist of a network of underground canals, tunnels, and spiral shafts that were used to bring water from underground sources to the surface for agriculture and drinking. This engineering feat allowed the Nazca people to thrive in a very dry environment.

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Sedona, Arizona: A city in Arizona, USA, known for its stunning red rock formations. While not a desert in the same sense as the Nazca or Atacama, its semi-arid climate and unique geology make it a popular destination for tourism and spiritual retreats.

Sky Lanterns: Also known as Chinese lanterns, are small hot-air balloons made of paper with a small flame at the bottom. They are traditionally used in various festivals and celebrations in some cultures, where they are released into the sky.

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Tramp Steamer: A type of cargo ship that does not operate on a fixed route or schedule. Instead, it travels wherever cargo is available, often calling at many different ports to pick up and deliver goods. These ships were common in the early 20th century for transporting bulk goods.

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Waylines: In talking about the Nazca lines, "waylines" refers to a theory that the geoglyphs were not just art, but sacred pathways or ceremonial roads. This theory suggests that ancient people may have walked along these lines as part of rituals, connecting different sites and symbols across the landscape.

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Map of Peru, South America

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My sketches of the larger "pictographs" from the Nazca Desert

These things are

1. HUGE and

2. AMAZING!

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The information included in this work has been researched and verified to the best of my abilities and may possibly contain errors. It is purley my intent to interest young people and others in the subject matter, historical events, and scientific breakthroughs that these stories contain. Traditional internet searches as well as help from various AI sources have been used in my attempt to maintain accuracy. If any of this information is erroneous or incorrect, I sincerely apologize. If you see any corrections that should be made, please contact us via the chat feature of this site.

Photo credits: 1&2: journalofantiques.com, 3: SiefkinDR

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