Archaeologists discovered a massive cat etched in a desert in Peru 2000 years ago

In 2020, while the world was busy battling the COVID-19 pandemic, skilled archaeologists uncovered something so astonishing that it left everyone stunned. Well, the Peruvian Ministry of Culture had announced that an over 2,000-year-old, huge feline-like figure was discovered in Mirador Natural Hill. The 37-meter-wide ancient rock art, the press release reported, was a part of the Nazca Lines — paintings carved onto a plateau, 250 miles south of Lima.

Interestingly, the mysterious drawing was barely visible when it was found by archaeologists; in fact, it was on the verge of disappearing because of its location and, of course, the effects of natural erosion. However, thankfully, the geoglyph, which depicts a feline-like figure with its head facing forward viewed horizontally, was later cleaned and preserved by the authorities. "The lines were mostly well-defined by a line with a width varying between 30 and 40 cm," the officials revealed. As per the official press release, experts believe that the incredible geoglyph dates back to the late Paracas period, which spanned from roughly 800 BCE to 100 CE in ancient Peruvian history. "We know that from comparing iconographies. Paracas textiles, for example, show birds, cats, and people that are easily comparable to these geoglyphs," Peru's chief archaeologist for the Nazca lines, Johny Isla, shared.

Now, according to Forbes, the newly discovered feline-like animal on the hill might depict the Andean mountain cat (Leopardus jacobita), a wild cat which was traditionally considered very auspicious in the Andes. While what the figure is in reality and what it truly depicts remains a mystery to date, the recent geoglyph joining the long list of zoomorphic artworks, including that of a hummingbird, a monkey, etc, once again accentuated the already rich cultural heritage of this particular place in Peru, which is also a part of the UNESCO World Heritage List. "Thus, even during the pandemic, Ministry of Culture personnel have been contributing to research, conservation, and tourism development in the region, particularly in the Nazca province," a part of the press release read.

Notably, the Mirador Natural Hill, comprising one of the largest line centers in the Nazca Pampa, as per the report, has gotten its name because of the various geoglyphs around it. "Well, one of the things that continues to surprise, and that many ask, is how we still find new geoglyphs. And in fact, there are new ones, and we will continue to find more. This has improved a lot in recent years with the use of modern technology," Isla was quoted as saying by Saudi Gazette. Further, he explained that earlier they had to rely on aerial pictures from the planes, but now drones are helping them with pictures from very low altitudes. "That helps a lot," Isla added. Coming back to the Nazca Lines, a report by Heritage Daily suggests that archaeologists from Yamagata University, who have been conducting field research using modern high-tech innovations, believe that the surprising drawings were used as an ancient form of communication in the Nasca Desert. Moving on, the report says that figures marked the routes for communication between territories, doing a remarkable job like the modern-day Google Maps.