In the end, she will be forever remembered as a discoverer, a scientist, and a protector of antiquity.  She was also one of the most honored heroines of pre-Columbian studies by Peru, the country she devoted her life to.

I don't understand in what way what is going on inside of me will takes shape externally. It's possible that I will live for a few years more in complete anonymity until destiny considers me worthy of taking over the task that it has assigned me, the task for which I was born ... I believe it involves a specific task for which I am unconsciously ready, preparing myself and learning."

Maria wasn't wrong. Destiny had laid out an impossible task that only her steel determination could accomplish: to single-handedly explore, document, and protect the product of another culture over two thousand years old!

The Nazca Dog/Jaguar Discovered By Maria

Maria Reiche-Grosse was born on May 15th, 1903 in Dresden as the first child of the councilor of the magistrates' court Dr. Felix Reiche-Grosse and his wife Elisabeth. She spent her childhood with her younger sister Renate and brother Franz at the Zittauer street. Here began her early interest for natural scientific observations. With 13 years Maria went to a school, which is today the Romain-Rolland high school. Later she thought thankfully back to her school years: "My old teachers, by the heaven, would never forgive me, if I would forget this time. The result of my today's work belongs to the basis of this education ...".

In 1924 Maria Reiche enrolled at the Dresden University of Technology. Two semesters she studied in Hamburg. After four years studying (1928) she took the examination for post grammar school in the subject's mathematics, physics, philosophy, pedagogy and geography. It followed unsteady years. Maria got again and again only temporary works. Besides the National Socialism started to become established in Germany. So came the employment wanted advertisement of the German consul in Cuzco just in time. He was looking for an in-home teacher. She applied and was chosen out of 80 applicants. In the February 1932 she went full of expectation to Peru.

Maria Reiche stayed two years in Cuzco and moved then to the capital Lima. There she earned her living costs with German and English lessons, gymnastics and massages. Later she obtained contracts for translations of scientific texts and in the Museum of Archaeology she preserved shrouds of mummies. On the side Maria helped out her friend in a café, where a lot of foreigners, professors, students and businessmen met. It was in this café that she met the American specialist for ancient irrigation systems - Dr. Paul Kosok. He was looking for someone, who would translate his English article into Spanish.

In December 1941 Maria travelled for the first time to Nazca. Dr. Paul Kosok had asked her to take a look at the strange, dead straight depressions in the desert, which looked like lines. At first he thought these were irrigation ditches, but then he suspected that it is an astronomical calendar installation. On June 22nd, the solstice, he noticed, that the line, in which he stood, went straight to the point, where the sun went down. He asked if Maria Reiche could confirm this theory.

However, she actually started her research work in earnest in the dessert of Nazca in 1946, because of her German citizenship, and the results of the second world war, she wasn't allowed to leave the city Lima until then.  She remained in Nazca ever since, until her death.

But in time, her orientation switched to the lines and symbol for what they were - the artifacts of a lost culture.  So with measuring tape, sextant and compass, and other instruments, she measured almost 1000 lines and investigated them for their astronomical orientation. Maria walked long distances without supplies, usually just carrying measuring devices and a ladder.

To save the time, constantly making the journey from the town of Nazca to the desert, she eventually moved in a simple hut without water and electricity at the very edge of the desert. She dedicated to asking how these huge drawings could be made to the level of this technical and artistic perfection, and suspected a system of units was the answer, which could used by the constructors to precisely draw the geoglyphs in the soil of the desert.

She investigated the Nazca drawings for more than 40 years and received extensive help from the office for aerial photographs of the Peruvian air force (SAN). They provided her with a number of flights over the drawings, where they provided her with invaluable aerial photos.  These same photos, in some cases are the only intact record of some lines and symbols that have become damaged over the years.

In 1955, it was Maria Reiche's efforts that prevented irrigation and agricultural development of the Nazca plain.  That fight against the bureaucracy of Peru she won.  She also became a very successful author with the release of her book "Secret of the desert",  which she published in 1968 in German, English and Spanish.

She tirelessly promoted the importance of the Nazca region to humanity and our knowledge of the evolution of civilization.  She used the American Studies Congress, held in Lima 1970, to talk about the need for protection of the geoglyphs, but in the end nothing happened.  So, using her own money, she paid a watchman to guard the desert since 1976.

Also she worked with her sister Renate to have a observation tower erected along the Panamerican highway, both for her use, and for travels to better see the geoglyphs.  With that tower, she helped prevent further damage that would have resulted from countless tourist driving through the lines.

In 1993, at 90 years of age, suffering from cancer and Parkinson's disease, she published her last book "Contributions to the Geometry and Astronomy in Ancient Perú".  It combines 40 years worth of articles, writings, and manuscripts, of her investigations.

At last in 1995, after decades of work, Maria succeeded, and the Nazca plateau and its lines were placed under protection of the UNESCO. At the end of her career Maria Reiche was decorated five times with: an honorary doctorate, the highest decoration of the Peruvian government,  as well as the first class order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. She was also awarded honorary Peruvian nationality so she truly became a daughter of Peru.

Because of her the town of Nazca thrives on a brisk tourist trade, with numerous hotels and restaurants, providing the livelihood of the community.  There is even a small airport that bares her name, to cater to the travel agencies that sell flights over her desert.

But the name Nazca doesn't mean only the lines. She was instrumental in helping develop and understanding of the Nazca-culture, which developed between 200 BC and 800 AC in that southern coastal region.  She uncovered fantastic woven goods and painted ceramics.  These were the scenes of the daily life, along with the mythological world portrayed in glowing earth colors. There is a direct relationship between the Nazcan pottery and the symbols of the desert, and the designs mirror each other.