Maria Reiche
Encyclopedia
Maria Reiche was a German
-born mathematician
, archaeologist, and technical translator
who is most well-regarded for her research in the Nazca lines
in Peru
, beginning in 1940. She helped educate people about the resource and gain government recognition and preservation of the property. In 1995 the Nazca Lines were declared a UNESCO
World Heritage Site
.
. She studied mathematics, astronomy, geography and foreign languages at the Dresden Technical University.
In 1932 she began work as a nanny
and teacher
for the children of a German consul
in Cuzco
, Peru
. In 1934 she lost one of her fingers to gangrene
. The same year she became a teacher in Lima
as well as did scientific translations. When World War II
broke out, she decided not to return to Germany.
, who had discovered the Nazca lines. Around 1946 she began to map the figures in Nazca. After Kosok left in 1948, she continued the work and mapped the area.
Reiche theorized that the builders of the lines used them as a sun calendar
and an observatory
for astronomical
cycles. Because the lines can be clearly seen only from above, she persuaded the Peruvian Air Force
to help her with aerial photographic surveys. She worked alone in her home in Nazca. She published her theories in the book The Mystery of the Desert, which had a mixed response from scholars. She used the profits from the book to campaign for preservation of the Nazca desert and to hire guards for the property and assistants for her work.
Wanting to preserve the Nazca lines from encroaching traffic – the area is near the Pan American Highway – and various government schemes, Reiche spent considerable money in the effort in lobbying and education. She convinced the government to restrict public access to the area. She sponsored construction of a tower near the highway so that visitors could have an overview of the lines.
Reiche's health deteriorated over the years. She used a wheelchair, suffered from skin ailments, and lost her sight. In her later years she also suffered from Parkinson's disease
. Marie Reiche died of ovarian cancer
on June 8, 1998 in an air force hospital in Lima. Reiche was buried near Nazca with official honors.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
-born mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
, archaeologist, and technical translator
Technical translation
Technical translation is a type of specialized translation involving the translation of documents produced by technical writers , or more specifically, texts which relate to technological subject areas or texts which deal with the practical application of scientific and technological information...
who is most well-regarded for her research in the Nazca lines
Nazca Lines
The Nazca Lines are a series of ancient geoglyphs located in the Nazca Desert in southern Peru. They were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994. The high, arid plateau stretches more than between the towns of Nazca and Palpa on the Pampas de Jumana about 400 km south of Lima...
in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
, beginning in 1940. She helped educate people about the resource and gain government recognition and preservation of the property. In 1995 the Nazca Lines were declared a UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.
Early life and education
Maria Reiche was born May 15, 1903 in DresdenDresden
Dresden is the capital city of the Free State of Saxony in Germany. It is situated in a valley on the River Elbe, near the Czech border. The Dresden conurbation is part of the Saxon Triangle metropolitan area....
. She studied mathematics, astronomy, geography and foreign languages at the Dresden Technical University.
In 1932 she began work as a nanny
Nanny
A nanny, childminder or child care provider, is an individual who provides care for one or more children in a family as a service...
and teacher
Teacher
A teacher or schoolteacher is a person who provides education for pupils and students . The role of teacher is often formal and ongoing, carried out at a school or other place of formal education. In many countries, a person who wishes to become a teacher must first obtain specified professional...
for the children of a German consul
Consul
Consul was the highest elected office of the Roman Republic and an appointive office under the Empire. The title was also used in other city states and also revived in modern states, notably in the First French Republic...
in Cuzco
Cusco
Cusco , often spelled Cuzco , is a city in southeastern Peru, near the Urubamba Valley of the Andes mountain range. It is the capital of the Cusco Region as well as the Cuzco Province. In 2007, the city had a population of 358,935 which was triple the figure of 20 years ago...
, Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
. In 1934 she lost one of her fingers to gangrene
Gangrene
Gangrene is a serious and potentially life-threatening condition that arises when a considerable mass of body tissue dies . This may occur after an injury or infection, or in people suffering from any chronic health problem affecting blood circulation. The primary cause of gangrene is reduced blood...
. The same year she became a teacher in Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
as well as did scientific translations. When World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out, she decided not to return to Germany.
Archeology career
In 1940 Reiche became an assistant to American archaeologist Paul KosokPaul Kosok
Paul Kosok is credited with being the original serious investigator into the Nazca Lines mystery. His work on the lines started during the 1930s and ended with his death in 1959. He was succeeded by Maria Reiche until her own death in 1998....
, who had discovered the Nazca lines. Around 1946 she began to map the figures in Nazca. After Kosok left in 1948, she continued the work and mapped the area.
Reiche theorized that the builders of the lines used them as a sun calendar
Calendar
A calendar is a system of organizing days for social, religious, commercial, or administrative purposes. This is done by giving names to periods of time, typically days, weeks, months, and years. The name given to each day is known as a date. Periods in a calendar are usually, though not...
and an observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
for astronomical
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
cycles. Because the lines can be clearly seen only from above, she persuaded the Peruvian Air Force
Peruvian Air Force
The Peruvian Air Force is the branch of the Peruvian Armed Forces tasked with defending the nation and its interests through the use of air power...
to help her with aerial photographic surveys. She worked alone in her home in Nazca. She published her theories in the book The Mystery of the Desert, which had a mixed response from scholars. She used the profits from the book to campaign for preservation of the Nazca desert and to hire guards for the property and assistants for her work.
Wanting to preserve the Nazca lines from encroaching traffic – the area is near the Pan American Highway – and various government schemes, Reiche spent considerable money in the effort in lobbying and education. She convinced the government to restrict public access to the area. She sponsored construction of a tower near the highway so that visitors could have an overview of the lines.
Reiche's health deteriorated over the years. She used a wheelchair, suffered from skin ailments, and lost her sight. In her later years she also suffered from Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
. Marie Reiche died of ovarian cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on June 8, 1998 in an air force hospital in Lima. Reiche was buried near Nazca with official honors.
Legacy and honors
- In 1995 UNESCOUNESCOThe United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
declared the Nazca lines a World Heritage SiteWorld Heritage SiteA UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
. - In addition to honors at her funeral, her former home has been turned into a museum.
- The Maria Reiche centre in Nazca provides information about her life and work. The centre sponsors lectures on Nazca, a scale model, current research, and different theories about the origin and construction of the lines.
External links
- Association "Dr. Maria Reiche – Lines and Figures of the Nasca culture in Peru": http://www.htw-dresden.de/nazca/
- Homepage Maria Reiche
- Lines Flights
- Biography Maria Reiche of Zetzsche, Viola and Schulze, Dietrich: "Picture book of the desert – Maria Reiche and the ground designs of Nasca" , Mitteldeutscher Verlag Halle, September 2005, ISBN 3-89812-298-0
- Dr. Paul Kosok @ NazcaMystery.com
- Nazca Lines Science & Theories
- International Geoglyph Registry – Dedicated to Maria Reiche