PERU: GERMAN ARCHAEOLOGIST MARIA REICHE DYING OF CANCER скачать в хорошем качестве

PERU: GERMAN ARCHAEOLOGIST MARIA REICHE DYING OF CANCER

(20 May 1998) Spanish/Nat Maria Reiche, the German archaeologist who discovered the famous Nazca lines in Peru, is dying of cancer. The ninety-five year old has fought a ten year battle with Parkinson's disease and has now developed cancer of the uterus. She discovered the mysterious Inca designs- a mosaic of gigantic stylized figures - in 1939 and they are now considered one of the world's greatest finds. The German archaeologist discovered the Nazca Lines - one of the greatest mysteries known to man - almost sixty years ago, and became a national hero for her work fighting to preserve the Inca markings. She was joined by her daughter and granddaughters in hospital. You need to have a bird's eye view to best see the ancient markings and figures on the Pampas in Nazca but from the air you can see a bird, a monkey, a spider and the figure of a head which some claim depicts an astronaut. Experts disagree as to the reason the markings and the numerous geometric shapes exist, with some arguing that it is an ancient Inca calendar and others saying the lines are messages laid out for extra-terrestrials. On her 92nd birthday she was given assurances by the Peruvian government that the Nazca lines will continue to be preserved long after she is around to defend them but it is the fund she set up herself that is doing much of the work. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Maria is about to fulfill 50 years- her golden anniversary-in conservation work- financing conservation efforts through its (the site of the Nazca lines) upkeep, supporting the Peruvian nation. She is the only person who has run this fund - a product of sales from her book 'the Secret of the Pampas'- and that is how she has paid for its conservation." SUPER CAPTION: Renata Reiche, daughter of Maria Reiche Medical staff at the Hospital de la Fuerza Aerea del Peru (Peruvian Air Force Hospital) where she is now staying say that the German-born explorer - is losing her fight against cancer of the uterus. Doctors fear that she will not survive more than a few days and are doing all they can to make the final hours as comfortable as possible. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "As I said, after the operation- after the critical stage- she is now stable. She is eating food normally - and with the support of her family-- we are giving her the best quality of life we can, with painkillers and all that however much longer she lives she is comfortable." SUPER CAPTION: Doctor Carlos Gaidol Villosa Maria Reiche was presented with an award by the Nazca municipality for her role in bringing worldwide attention to the discovery. She is due to receive the 'Machu Picchu' medal from UNESCO in the next few weeks for her work in preservation. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...