After Decades of Failed Research, Artificial Intelligence Just Discovered 303 Hidden Geoglyphs in Peru in Just Six Months

Artificial intelligence (AI) has helped uncover 303 previously unknown Nazca geoglyphs in southern Peru, nearly doubling the number of existing known figures.
The discovery was part of a project between Yamagata University and IBM Research, which used high-resolution aerial images to detect the new geoglyphs.
Researchers split the landscape into small image tiles to ensure no possible geoglyph was missed, enhancing the AI’s ability to detect faint or incomplete shapes.
The new figures are mostly small, some depicting human heads with exaggerated features or animals like camelids and felines.
Many of the newly discovered geoglyphs are located close to ancient walking paths, suggesting possible use in rituals or reminders related to beliefs and social roles in antiquity.
The application of AI is expected to revolutionize archaeology beyond Peru by dramatically reducing the time needed for fieldwork and aiding in preserving vulnerable sites.
Digital mapping during the project offers a fresh perspective into the Nazca people’s uses and understanding of their landscape.
The use of AI in this process establishes a new research paradigm, promising more efficient archaeological investigations in the future.

You may have missed