AI Uncovers 300 Ancient Nazca Geoglyphs in Peru Desert

AI-powered discovery of ancient Nazca geoglyphs: Artificial intelligence has aided archaeologists in uncovering hundreds of previously unknown ancient drawings in Peru’s Nazca desert, shedding new light on the region’s rich cultural history.

• The newly discovered geoglyphs, believed to be around 2000 years old, depict decapitated human heads, domesticated llamas, and other figures associated with the Nazca culture.
• These images are smaller and older than the famous Nazca lines, typically measuring around 9 meters long compared to the larger geometric shapes and animal figures that can stretch for kilometers.
• Some of the newly found geoglyphs hint at human sacrifice, portraying decapitated heads and killer whales armed with blades, aligning with scenes depicted on Nazca pottery.

AI’s role in accelerating archaeological research: The use of artificial intelligence significantly expedited the process of identifying potential geoglyph sites, demonstrating the growing importance of technology in archaeological discoveries.

• Researchers trained an AI model to analyze high-resolution aerial photographs covering an area approximately ten times the size of Manhattan.
• The AI generated a gridded map categorizing the probability of each square containing geoglyphs, reducing the manual inspection workload by 98%.
• This AI-assisted approach is estimated to have sped up the screening process by a factor of 50, allowing researchers to focus their efforts on the most promising sites.

Methodology and human verification: Despite the AI’s efficiency, the discovery process still required significant human involvement to confirm and contextualize the findings.

• Researchers spent over 2600 hours manually inspecting the highest-probability photos and conducting field inspections at the sites.
• Out of 303 figurative geoglyphs discovered during field surveys in 2022 and 2023, 178 were individually identified by the AI, while 66 were found within AI-highlighted groups.
• Nearly 1000 AI-identified candidates still await inspection during future field surveys, highlighting the ongoing nature of this research.

Significance of the smaller geoglyphs: The newly discovered geoglyphs offer insights into the ritualistic practices of the Nazca people and their relationship with the landscape.

• These smaller geoglyphs generally appear on hillsides near winding trails, suggesting they were likely used in individual or small group ritual activities.
• In contrast, the larger, more famous Nazca lines were probably the focus of community-wide rituals, indicating a complex social and religious structure.
• The discovery of these smaller geoglyphs provides a more nuanced understanding of Nazca culture and its evolution over time.

Challenges and future prospects: While the AI-assisted discovery represents a significant advancement in archaeological research, experts caution that challenges remain in fully mapping and preserving these ancient artworks.

• The AI technology is more likely to identify the more visible geoglyphs, potentially missing more subtle or eroded examples.
• Many geoglyphs are at risk of erasure due to agricultural expansion, urban development, and wind-power generation, emphasizing the urgency of continued research and preservation efforts.
• The success of this AI-powered approach offers hope for discovering geoglyphs in the broader region beyond the Nazca lines World Heritage Site.

Broader implications for archaeology: This groundbreaking use of AI in archaeological research could pave the way for similar applications in other areas, potentially revolutionizing how ancient sites and artifacts are discovered and studied.

• The collaboration between AI technology and traditional archaeological methods demonstrates the potential for interdisciplinary approaches in uncovering and preserving cultural heritage.
• As AI continues to evolve, it may enable researchers to identify even more subtle patterns and features in archaeological data, leading to new discoveries and insights into ancient cultures.
• However, the research also highlights the continued importance of human expertise in verifying and interpreting AI-generated leads, underscoring the need for a balanced approach in incorporating new technologies into established scientific fields.