Maria Reiche Grosse-Neumann
Personal Information
Born: 1903
Died: 1998
Country of Birth: Germany
Nationality: German; Peru
Ethnicity: White
Education
Dresden University of Technology
Professional Life
Field of Study: Mathmatics; Archaeology
Institution/Corporation: unknown
Degrees & Memberships: Honorary Degree: Causa National University of San Marcos, Universidad Nacional de Ingenieris in Lima; Member: founding member of the South American Explorers (1977)
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 1994, Silver Medal for Lifetime Achievement, UNESCO; 2018, Google Doodle; 50 schools & other institutions, an airport & park in Peru are named after her
Achievements: was known as the Lady of the Lines and lived near them to help preserve & study them; was introduced to the lines by American Paul Kosok & worked with him to study them to determine how they were made & for what purpose; mapped the lines determining they depicted 18 different animals & birds; theorized the lines represented a sun calendar & observatory for astronomical cycles; was instrumental in their 1994 designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; used the profits from her books to hire private security guards & otherwise preserve & protect the lines
Dedicated over 50 years to studying & preserving the Nazca Lines
Originally moved to Peru to tutor the German Consul's children
Discovered the Nazca Lines were 28 different kinds of animals & birds
Hypothesized the Lines were a large-scale celestial calendar
Known as "The Lady of the Lines"
Moved closed to the Lines to protect & preserve them; ;obbied for them & gained national & international attention for them; due to her efforts they were designated a UNESCO Heritage Site in 1994
1934 in Cusco, Peru, she accidentally stabbed herself with a cactus & lost a finger to gangrene
Collaborated with American historian, Paul Kosok, who 1st showed her the Lines in 1941
Wrote "The Mystery of the Desert" in 1949; used the proceeds from the book to fund her efforts & hire guards to protect the Lines
At age 90, wrote & published "Contributions to Geometry & Astronomy in ancient Peru"