While doing some research deep in an on-line University archive, I came across a reference to a theory on an early use of kites to life humans that I had never seen before.
August Steinman has put forth a rather surprising hypothosis about the huge soil drawings located between the towns of Nasca and Palpa in Peru. Located about 400 miles south of Lima, these huge geollyphs have intrigued archeologists since they were discovered by Paul Kosok of Long Island University (NY) in 1939.
August Steinman's hypothesis is that these were take off and landing areas for man lifting kites of the Nazca civilization. Steinman has stated that he believes:
"The people of the Nazca civilisation were able to fly kites that could take off and land while being tied to a rope. And they could even land without being tied like a glider. In spite of their Stone Age civilisation the Nasca had the technical prerequisites for the production of such kites through the manufacture of threads and fabric. That is known from many grave finds. The known two thousand years old history of manned kites in Asia also supports this possibility."
In addition to the account detailed in the university archives, Steinman gives a detailed account on the web site of the respected Otto Lillenthal Museum located in Anklam, Germany. The specific account of Steinman's theory of evidence pointing to a possible use of kites for man lifting much earlier than many believed possible in the Americas is well worth reading and pondering about.
Certainly, this will be cause for me to do some more digging and discussing of this hypothesis in the months ahead.
There is always something "new' in historical research about kites! No wonder I find it so interesting.