Archaeologists working in Peru have used artificial intelligence to discover 303 new giant symbols in the Nazca desert. The new geoglyphs included images of nature — birds, plants, spiders — as well as human-like figures.
The discovery nearly doubles the number of known Nazca geoglyphs, mysterious drawings formed in the ground by rocks or gravel that are about 2,000 years old, according to a study published Monday in the journal PNAS. The researchers’ findings also shed some light on the mysterious purpose of the symbols.
Located 50 kilometers (31 miles) off the southern coast of Peru, the enormous symbols were found in the desert in the early 20th century. The geoglyphs have survived the centuries because the dry desert region is sparsely populated, not prone to flooding, and unsuitable for growing crops.
The rate of new finds has increased in recent years thanks to the use of drones and satellites, with an average of 19 geoglyphs found each year between 2000 and 2020. However, the use of artificial intelligence to search has significantly accelerated the pace and, more broadly, promises to “revolutionize archaeological discovery,” the study says.