Japanese researches managed to find 142 new geoglyphs in the Nazca Province and the surrounding area in Peru. The new batch of the famous Nazca lines depict people, animals and other mysterious beings. The biomorphic figures are thought to date back to at least 100 BC to 300 AD.
The study was made by a research team from the Yamagata University through fieldwork and analyzing high-resolution 3D data, among other activities. Additionally, one new geoglyph was discovered using artificial intelligence with the help of IBM Japan running on one of their Power Systems servers. The scientists explored the potential and feasibility of artificial intelligence systems to discover new lines, and introduced the capability to process large volumes of data with AI, including high-resolution aerial photos, at high speeds. This represented the first glyph at the site discovered by artificial intelligence.
The Nazca lines are a UNESCO World Heritage Site and they are regarded as one of archaeology’s great mysteries. They are scratched into the dark ground to reveal the lighter-coloured earth underneath and are best viewed from the air.
The main question which baffles scientists and archaeologists is why were they made in the first place. Even though they could have been made just for fun, other theories include that they are a primitive Sun calendar, an irrigation system or even messages and landing strips for ancient aliens.
