Atacama Giant facts for kids
The Atacama Giant (in Spanish, Gigante de Atacama) is a giant drawing on the ground in the Atacama Desert in Chile. It is called a geoglyph, which means it's a large design or picture made on the ground. This particular geoglyph looks like a human, making it the biggest human-shaped drawing from ancient times. Some people think it might show a wise leader, a spiritual person, or even a god, but there isn't much proof for these ideas.
Contents
What is the Atacama Giant?
The Atacama Giant is located on a hill called Cerro Unitas. It is a very large figure, measuring about 86 meters (282 feet) tall. This makes it easy to see from far away, especially from the air. The drawing was made by removing dark rocks from the hillside to show lighter soil underneath, or by piling up rocks to create the outline.
An Ancient Calendar in Stone
Scientists believe the Atacama Giant was used as an early astronomical calendar. This means ancient people used it to track the movements of the moon. By watching where the moon set in relation to the giant's head and sides, they could figure out the time of day, the best times for planting crops, and even the changing seasons.
- The points on the top and sides of the giant's head were important.
- They helped people know when the rainy season would arrive in the very dry Atacama Desert.
- Knowing this was very important for their farming and survival.
Who Made This Giant Artwork?
The Atacama Giant is just one of almost 5,000 geoglyphs found in the Atacama region. These ancient artworks have been discovered over the last 30 years. Experts believe that different groups of people who lived in this part of South America created them over many years. These groups include the Tiwanaku and Inca civilizations. These geoglyphs show how clever and artistic ancient people were.
See also
In Spanish: Gigante de Atacama para niños
