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An argument for the protection of geoglyphs in Arizona

Coverage of tribal natural resources is supported in part by Catena Foundation

An odd phenomena has been making headlines of late, as researchers and archaeologists discovered 168 new geoglyphs in Peru.

Drone and aerial photography is changing the game when it comes to these kinds of discoveries.

The images they found are striking — from giant cats and snakes to orcas and humans — and they date back roughly 2,000 years. 

These massive etchings on the land are a phenomenon found all over the world, including in Arizona, where development like wind and solar farms can threaten their preservation.

The Show spoke with George Shannon, Ph.D., a regional archeologist with the Bureau of Reclamation, about what exactly geoglyphs are and who made them.

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Lauren Gilger, host of KJZZ's The Show, is an award-winning journalist whose work has impacted communities large and small, exposing injustices and giving a voice to the voiceless and marginalized.