AI Unravels Mysteries of Ancient Peruvian Symbols in Desert

LIMA – Researchers at Yamagata University Institute and IBM Japan have unraveled the mysteries of ancient Peruvian geoglyphs etched into the Nazca desert. By employing a deep learning AI model, the team successfully identified previously undiscovered geoglyphs dating back to the century between 500 BC and 500 AD.

Geoglyphs, elaborate depressions in the earth forming intricate shapes and lines, have fascinated archaeologists for decades. Peru boasts the world’s most renowned geoglyph, known as the Nazca Lines. The colossal creations, some spanning up to 1,200 feet in length, remained virtually undetectable when observed from the ground. They remained unknown until the early 20th century when pilots spotted the outlines from the sky.

With the aid of AI technology, the research team successfully unveiled four more geoglyphs in the Nazca desert. Each depicts a various shape, including a human-like figure holding a club. In discovering the geoglyphs, scientists used AI to recognize potential Nazca Lines based on previously discovered geoglyphs in the area. 

The integration of AI proved fruitful, as the technology performed 21 times faster than human analysis when examining photos of the landscape. Buoyed by this success, the Yamagata researchers will join forces with the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center in New York to expand their investigations across the entire region where the Nazca Lines were unearthed.