For decades, scholars have been fascinated by the enigmatic Nazca geoglyphs in southern Peru. These ancient designs, etched into the desert floor roughly 2,000 years ago, have yielded more questions than answers. However, a recent collaboration between Japanese researcher Masato Sakai and IBM Research has shed new light on these mysterious symbols.
Using an artificial-intelligence model, Sakai’s team analyzed high-resolution photos of the entire plateau, identifying 303 new surface-type drawings – nearly doubling the previous catalog. The system treated the desert as a grid of tiny image tiles, scoring each one for geoglyph likelihood. This innovative approach has allowed researchers to pinpoint previously hidden figures.
The newly discovered glyphs reveal a range of designs, including human torsos, stylized livestock, and eerie isolated heads. Sakai explains that the human heads depict human sacrifices to the gods, while the pathway setting suggests these images were used as teaching aids or spiritual prompts during routine travel.
Archaeologists believe that the Nazca culture wove its belief system into the landscape, using these symbols to convey important messages about roles and rituals. The AI’s accuracy was significantly improved by applying transfer learning – a technique trained on everyday photographs before fine-tuning it for desert imagery.
This breakthrough demonstrates the power of machine learning in spotlighting hidden heritage without disturbing the ground. Similar techniques are already aiding shipwreck hunts in the Mediterranean and temple searches in Cambodia’s jungles. The next step is protection, with digital maps built from AI detections giving local authorities a clearer picture of what needs fencing, signage, or rerouting.
The study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences marks a significant milestone in understanding these ancient symbols, providing new insights into the culture and ways of life of the Nazca people.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/enduring-earth-mystery-partially-solved-artificial-intelligence-nazca-geoglyphs/