A.- Introduction:

      Since the first half of 2017, there has been much discussion on social networks about the strange findings of mummified remains of three-fingered creatures ("Nazca mummies"), found between Nasca and Palpa, in southern Perú. If it were convincingly proven that these beings are authentic and that they lived in the times of the Nasca and Palpa civilizations, it would indicate that they possibly collaborated with humans in developing the culture of those times, including their famous geoglyphs, aqueducts, agriculture, textiles, ceramics, and possibly citadels such as Cahuachi and others not yet unearthed. In this small essay we analyze a mysterious hill that is only three kilometers distant from the city of Palpa, flattened out with techniques currently unknown to mankind, which contains geoglyphs similar to those of Nasca, and which clearly reinforces the thesis that a mysterious advanced civilization existed in the region. However, serious studies on the site are required in order to understand its true nature, since until today it has only been plundered repeatedly by unwelcomed visitors.
      The Province of Palpa, the smallest and least populated province of the Ica Region, borders on the south with the Province of Nasca and to the west with the Province of Ica (see map in Wikipedia article). The "Lines and Geoglyphs of Nasca and Palpa" are considered as a whole Cultural Heritage of Humanity, since according to UNESCO "These lines, which were scratched on the surface of the ground between 500 B.C. and A.D. 500, are among archaeology's greatest enigmas because of their quantity, nature, size and continuity. The geoglyphs depict living creatures, stylized plants and imaginary beings, as well as geometric figures several kilometres long." (Quoted from http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/700 in its first paragraph).
      The location of the flat hill, 3 kilometers south of the city of Palpa is illustrated in Image 1. It is one of the major enigmas of the area, mainly for its perfectly flat surface of about 615 meters long and 80 meters wide on average. It has been known through aerial photos, but as far as we know it has not been analyzed in detail on the spot by any institution with teams of experts in surveying, geology and archeology. The only people who have visited the hill, which is evidenced by the multiple trails that surround it, are probably the "huaqueros" (tomb robbers) and visitors who have left some of their names etched on the north western slope with large letters. It is located on a long and narrow hill that continues for almost 2 kilometers ending in an area of large geoglyphs that is only 2 km from the city of Palpa. On the Cerro Plano there are lines and small geoglyphs of the same style as the largest of Nasca and Palpa. In the aerial photo (Image 2) only some of these lines can be seen clearly.
      In Google Earth the lines, geoglyphs and other details can be clearly observed with good resolution and measurements on them can be made. For example, in Image 3 we see four elements that stand out clearly:
(1) A spiral of approximately 40 meters in diameter; (2) A supposed "runway" (airstrip) of trapezoidal shape, of compact material and whitish in color; (3) A possible underground cemetery; and (4) Possible passages that apparently pass under the runway.  

B.- Analysis of Image 3 based on Google Earth:

(1) The spiral is the only circular "drawing" on the hill and it has the appropriate dimensions to constitute a possible ceremonial center, which is common in the ancient cultures of South America. There is a similar one in the plain of Nasca of 76 meters of diameter in the following geographic coordinates (-14.688236°; -75.122777°), also next to an "airstrip" or "runway" of trapezoidal form. Without an adequate investigation of the archaeological context in situ, we can only propose this as a preliminary hypothesis. The curious thing about these spirals is that they are double, that is, they are drawn with two lines that start from the center in opposite directions.
(2) The idea of the "runway" is hypothetical, but we call it that because of the perfectly flat surface and its adequate dimensions for the takeoff and landing of a light airplane. The compact material that composes it has resisted wind and possibly hydric erosion, for time immemorial. The interesting thing is its relationship with the following outstanding elements on the hill, whose surfaces are approximately on the same plane.
(3) The possible "cemetery", whose flat surface is almost at the same height as the "runway", clearly shows artificial underground structures that are delineated on the surface possibly due to erosion. A plausible hypothesis is that it is an underground cemetery with rock walls, which could even extend below the "runway". According to the impressive original reports by Paul Ronceros (see section 2.- HISTORIA DEL HALLAZGO, translated here), remains of three-toed creatures were found in an underground gallery with stone sarcophagi and Inca-style walls, so this could be one of the possible locations of those findings. However, throughout the Nasca and Palpa area there are many similar trapezoidal tracks below which similar structures may be found. So far, no official excavations have been made around them, which could rule out or verify this hypothesis.
(4) It is interesting to note how most of these thick "lines", about 3 meters wide on average, apparently cross under the "runway" reappearing on the other side in the correct position. The hypothesis that these lines are underground passages is partly supported by the fact that the whitish color they show in the images is similar to that of the "runway" which would indicate that like this they would be composed of a material with adequate properties of hardness and resistance to serve as a ceiling for underground structures. The white colored diatomite (diatomaceous earth), which has been reported by Gaia and Tercer Milenio as an agent contributing to the extraordinary preservation of the mummies, may also have been used in the mixture of the construction material of the runway and the supposed underground passages. The traditional explanation that the "Nasca lines" (and therefore of the similar Palpa lines) have been drawn by dragging a piece of wood tied to a rope to remove the dark earth and expose the whitish earth beneath could be sustained (with much difficulty) for the thin lines such as spirals or some zoomorphic representations, but for the thick lines of this group this explanation is not at all sustainable.

C.- Model in 3 dimensions obtained from a drone flight.

      With images taken on 30-7-2017 with a drone, processed with a modern photogrammetry software, we have made a 3D reconstruction that allows us to observe some details that cannot be seen in Google Earth. This short video-animation illustrates how extraordinarily flat the "runway" is, which demonstrates a superior technology, a true enigma for current scientists. Click here for a smaller 3D model of the flat hill, using the SketchFab system. The loading time of this model will take only few seconds with an average connection to the internet. The model is loaded in two steps (in the first step the model will look blurry). The advantage of this system is that one can rotate and move the model freely to visualize it from any angle. To rotate it in any direction (horizontal or vertical) use the left mouse button. The right button is used for moving the model horizontally or vertically and the mouse wheel for zooming in or out.
      Now we analyze some interesting details of the photogrammetric images obtained by processing the drone photos with the Pix4D mapper software, in comparison with the respective Google Earth satellite image.
(i) Image 4: In the Google Earth image most of the large letters painted on the hillsides are not visible, and these are clearly seen in the three-dimensional model made with the Pix4D mapper. The mounds observed in the upper central part of the image are an eloquent indicator of the pillaging activity of the "huaqueros". It is imperative that the responsible persons and institutions investigate this in detail and that the results of the investigations be reported to the public with full transparency.
(ii) Image 5: The Pix4D image shows the mentioned mounds more clearly. These are located almost at the north-east end of the runway and are made up of medium-sized rocks. They are surrounded by almost rectangular areas of a brighter color. The largest mound is just over 1 meter high and the smallest about 60 centimeters high according to approximate measurements with the Pix4D mapper. ntículo más grande es de poco más de 1 metro de alto y el menor de unos 60 centímetros de alto según medidas aproximadas con el Pix4D mapper.
(iii) Image 6: At the south-west end of the track there are two black spots that in the Google Earth image could be mistaken for holes, but in the Pix4D image it is seen that instead of holes there is a mound of stones about 1.2 meters high and a large rock casting a shadow.
(iv) Image 7: In the area of the supposed cemetery there are some important details only visible in the Pix4D section of the image. One is a round flat rock approximately 2.2 meters in diameter that could be a hatch that would serve as an entrance to the supposed galleries underground. There are also a couple dozen of small holes in a diagonal strip on the left side, and a medium hole about 70 centimeters high and 40 wide at the far right that could be another possible entrance on the edge of the cliff, but for supposed small beings. In Image 7a we show an ortomosaic (vertical view) of the two main objects mentioned showing their horizontal measurements. It is worth mentioning that the length of the hole (70 cm measured in the oblique plane) cannot be measured from this view, but only in the oblique view that is presented in  Image 7b.

D.- Conclusions.

      The revelations of the huaquero "Mario" through Paúl Ronceros (aka "Krawix") about the place of the discovery reveal interesting coincidences with what we have observed and analyzed in the Google Earth image and in the photogrammetric 3D reconstruction of the flat hill, notably in item C.-(iv). Thus we are prompted to demand of the authorities that a thorough scientific study of this hill be made officially. This requires detailed on site investigations by geologists, civil engineers specialized in soil mechanics, and archaeologists, who must verify to what extent the hypotheses raised here are true or not. If the entrances to the supposed "subterranean galleries" really exist, it may not be necessary to carry out excavations that could affect the integrity of this ancestral wonder that is an important cultural heritage of Humanity. In any case, excavations monitored by the competent authorities can be carried out to minimize the damage that can later be repaired, together with the damages previously caused by the huaqueros.
      It would be important that this research be carried out with the participation of independent consultants as well as people from UNESCO, who have the obligation to help in the preservation of archaeological jewels like this hill. This impressive and enigmatic hill of Palpa deserves to be rescued from the destructive activities of the huaqueros, and preserved for the admiration of the world.