# What were the Nazca Lines for? · Nazca Lines > Six answers have been proposed. Lines and trapezoids were ceremonial paths, walked in processions, with Cahuachi as the pilgrimage centre. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nazca-lines/questions/QST0CT6XC3J2CGC/what-were-the-nazca-lines-for Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:58:11+00:00 --- **0** # What were the Nazca Lines for? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·6 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the lines were made and walked in rites concerned with water and fertility, linking line centres, valleys and…** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Six answers have been proposed. Lines and trapezoids were ceremonial paths, walked in processions, with Cahuachi as the pilgrimage centre. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Five are still possible. Of the two narrower questions under it, one is answered. ## Why it matters Method and date are settled; purpose is the live question, and the enlarged 2024 catalogue is the first evidence base large enough to test the readings statistically⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X41R5BYA/order-in-the-nazca-lines)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X6FW264V/ai-accelerated-nazca-survey-nearly-doubles-the-number-of). ## Answers 6 [**Lines and trapezoids were ceremonial paths, walked in processions, with Cahuachi as the pilgrimage centre.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nazca-lines/answers/ANS0CT6XDT80D6J/lines-and-trapezoids-were-ceremonial-paths-walked-in) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**Small relief-type figures were made for people walking the footpaths between settlements, at individual or…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nazca-lines/answers/ANS0CT6XEHP1P5M/small-relief-type-figures-were-made-for-people-walking-the) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**The lines were made and walked in rites concerned with water and fertility, linking line centres, valleys and…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nazca-lines/answers/ANS0CT6XD2T6D55/the-lines-were-made-and-walked-in-rites-concerned-with-water) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nazca-lines/answers/ANS0CT6XG8C2ZMC/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The lines are a calendar or star map, pointing to solstices and constellations.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nazca-lines/answers/ANS0CT6XF947768/the-lines-are-a-calendar-or-star-map-pointing-to-solstices) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [**The lines physically mark subterranean water courses or faults.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nazca-lines/answers/ANS0CT6XFRR4ZWZ/the-lines-physically-mark-subterranean-water-courses-or) Failed a test; not refuted outright Evidence: 1 against Disputed [Show 1 more answer] ## History 1. 1990[Aveni puts forward: the lines were made and walked in rites concerned with water and fertility, linking line centres, valleys and…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X41R5BYA/order-in-the-nazca-lines) 1. 1990[Silverman puts forward: lines and trapezoids were ceremonial paths, walked in processions, with Cahuachi as the pilgrimage centre.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X4HC5F3Y/the-early-nasca-pilgrimage-center-of-cahuachi-and-the-nazca) 1. 1990[Aveni puts forward: the lines are a calendar or star map, pointing to solstices and constellations.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X3SY2NF9/an-assessment-of-previous-studies-of-the-nazca-geoglyphs) 1. 1990[Aveni: lines radiate from 62 centres, link to one another and tend toward water courses.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X41R5BYA/order-in-the-nazca-lines)For: The lines were made and walked in rites concerned with water and fertility, linking line centres, valleys and… 1. 1990[Ruggles: azimuths of the radial lines show no significant astronomical patterning beyond a weak solstitial tendency.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X4S60J3Q/a-statistical-examination-of-the-radial-line-azimuths-at)Against: The lines are a calendar or star map, pointing to solstices and constellations. 1. 2009[Hartsch et al. puts forward: the lines physically mark subterranean water courses or faults.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X5GM1RT5/the-nasca-and-palpa-geoglyphs-geophysical-and-geochemical) 1. 2012[Ruggles & Saunders: lines carry paths and bordering heaps; a 4.4 km labyrinth makes sense only when walked.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X5RE23ED/desert-labyrinth-lines-landscape-and-meaning-at-nazca-peru)For: Lines and trapezoids were ceremonial paths, walked in processions, with Cahuachi as the pilgrimage centre. 1. 2016[Lasaponara et al.: the Nasca built puquios to reach groundwater at the limit of irrigation.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X6082A2R/puquios-the-nasca-response-to-water-shortage)For: The lines were made and walked in rites concerned with water and fertility, linking line centres, valleys and… 1. 2024[Sakai et al. puts forward: small relief-type figures were made for people walking the footpaths between settlements, at individual or…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X6FW264V/ai-accelerated-nazca-survey-nearly-doubles-the-number-of) 1. 2024[Sakai et al.: giant line-type figures, mostly wild animals, lie on average 34 m from the ceremonial line network.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X6FW264V/ai-accelerated-nazca-survey-nearly-doubles-the-number-of)For: Lines and trapezoids were ceremonial paths, walked in processions, with Cahuachi as the pilgrimage centre. 1. 2024[Sakai et al.: relief-type figures lie on average 43 m from ancient trails and 81.6 per cent show humans or human-modified…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X6FW264V/ai-accelerated-nazca-survey-nearly-doubles-the-number-of)For: Small relief-type figures were made for people walking the footpaths between settlements, at individual or… 1. 2025[Andina: the 2025 additions are arranged by theme along small paths (reported, not yet published).](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0CT6X6QP5Z51/japanese-researchers-unveil-248-new-peruvian-nasca-lines)For: Small relief-type figures were made for people walking the footpaths between settlements, at individual or… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/nazca-lines/questions/QST0CT6XC3J2CGC/what-were-the-nazca-lines-for%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/nazca-lines/questions/QST0CT6XC3J2CGC/what-were-the-nazca-lines-for%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/nazca-lines/questions/QST0CT6XC3J2CGC/what-were-the-nazca-lines-for%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/nazca-lines/questions/QST0CT6XC3J2CGC/what-were-the-nazca-lines-for%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/nazca-lines/questions/QST0CT6XC3J2CGC/what-were-the-nazca-lines-for%23add-source) Where it fits Nazca Lines **What were the Nazca Lines for?** Key question · you're here [How many geoglyphs are there, and will the catalogue be open?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nazca-lines/questions/QST0CT6XCV06TK4/how-many-geoglyphs-are-there-and-will-the-catalogue-be-open)Open · 2 answers, inconclusive [How were the lines and figures laid out?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/nazca-lines/questions/QST0CT6XCK6510J/how-were-the-lines-and-figures-laid-out)Answered · Laid out from the ground with cords, stakes and sighting along straight segments, then cleared by moving… [ Ask a question under this one ]