Fatshimetrie, a website dedicated to exploring the mysteries of the ancient world, recently unveiled a fascinating discovery made by Japanese scientists in the Nazca Desert in Peru. Using artificial intelligence, these researchers have identified 303 new geoglyphs, doubling the number of these incredible figures traced more than 2,000 years ago by a pre-Inca civilization.
The Nazca Lines, these immense drawings traced on the desert floor and representing animals, plants, imaginary beings and geometric shapes, have captivated the attention of scientists since their discovery about a century ago. These geoglyphs, which can only be fully appreciated from the air, extend over 350 kilometers south of Lima and are one of Peru’s major tourist attractions.
In a presentation in Lima, archaeologist Masato Sakai of Yamagata University highlighted the importance of artificial intelligence in this discovery. He explained that the use of AI has made it possible to map the distribution of geoglyphs in the Nazca region more quickly and accurately. This technological advance was made possible thanks to a collaboration between the Nazca Institute of Yamagata University and the research division of the technology company IBM.
Until now, the traditional method for studying these geoglyphs consisted of visually identifying them from high-resolution images of the region, a long and risky task due to the risk of missing some geoglyphs. However, thanks to artificial intelligence, researchers were able to discover 303 new figures in just six months of field work, mainly wild animals but also abstract motifs representing humanoids and domestic camelids.
The use of AI has allowed scientists to analyze a huge amount of geospatial data produced by aircraft, guiding them to areas where they might discover new geoglyphs, including smaller and more complex figures.
The Nazca civilization, which existed in the southwestern region of Peru between 200 BC and 700 AD, remains shrouded in mystery. The reasons behind the creation of these lines, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, remain unknown. Some theories suggest that they may have astronomical or religious significance, while other hypotheses remain to be explored.
Since the discovery of the first geoglyphs in 1927, the Nazca Lines have continued to arouse the interest and wonder of researchers around the world. With this new technological advancement, the mystery of the Nazca lines could well be about to reveal new secrets, opening the way to a better understanding of this fascinating ancient civilization.