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17 => One example that stands out above all the other places is a mysteri- ous desert plateau in Nazca, Peru. This 500-square-mile volcanic pla- teau contains artwork by an unknown creator (or creators). There are hundreds of markings on the plateau—including animal figures such as monkeys, spiders, whales, and various birds, as well as geometric designs, patterns, and lines—that can only be seen from high up in the air. These markings are more than 2,000 years old, predating both the Incan and Mayan empires. Therefore the question remains: Who made these markings that can only be seen from the air, and why? Could they have been inspired by extraterrestrials? The Nazca mys- tery remains unsolved. Figure 1.1 These giant hands are part of the Nazca Lines in Peru. (Kevin Schafer/Corbis) Ancient Astronauts