The National Institute of Culture (INC) of Peru is currently preparing a preservation project to prevent damaged caused by weather on the enigmatic Nazca Lines, (Ica region) reported Mario Olaechea, resident archaeologist of this organization in Nasca. "It's a project that will serve the whole area in general, to avoid events such like the one last January, when rainwater accumulated and drained, covering with layers of clay the geoglyph called La Mano (The Hand),", he said. "Only 1% of the geoglyph was covered by the clay layer, and will be withdrawn very soon", he said. Heavy rains have affected the region during the first quarter, but without causing serious consequences. "The most important part of this project is the preventive stage", Olaechea said.

Source: Living in Peru (13 April 2009)