In the mysterious Nazca Desert, a surprising discovery is capturing the attention of archaeologists, scientists, and travelers alike. Thanks to artificial intelligence, 303 new figures that had remained hidden for centuries have been revealed. These enigmatic shapes, etched into the sands by ancient civilizations, represent a revolutionary advancement in the study of one of the world’s greatest archaeological mysteries.
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¿What do these new lines reveal about our ancestors? ¿How will this change the future of tourism in Nazca? Get ready to uncover a new chapter in the history of pre-Incan cultures and explore how technology is transforming our understanding of the past. ¡A fascinating journey awaits! Keep reading to learn more.
¿How is Artificial Intelligence Changing the Exploration of Nazca?
“It speeds up the discovery process,” acknowledges Sakai when asked about the advantage artificial intelligence brings. “The Nazca Pampa is a vast area covering more than 400 square kilometers, and no detailed study has been conducted,” the Japanese scientist recalls. Only the northern part, where large linear geoglyphs are concentrated, “has been relatively intensively studied,” he adds. But scattered across the rest of the desert are many relief-type figures, which are smaller and have become more difficult to detect over time.
Convinced that there were many more, Sakai and his team reached out to IBM’s artificial intelligence division, from which the Watson system emerged. They had high-resolution images taken from planes or satellites of the entire Nazca area, but with a resolution of just a few centimeters per pixel, it would have taken the human eye years, if not decades, to analyze all the data. That task was left to the AI system.
Though it wasn’t easy to train its artificial vision, with so few previous images and such different ones from each other, the machine proposed 1,309 candidates. The figure came from a prior selection also made by AI, using 36 images for each candidate. With this selection, the researchers conducted a field expedition between September 2022 and February 2023. The result, as detailed in the scientific journal PNAS, is 303 new geoglyphs added to this UNESCO World Heritage site. All of them are of the relief type.
Technology has revolutionized how we explore the world, and the Nazca Desert is no exception. Artificial intelligence has enabled researchers to unearth 303 new figures that remained hidden for centuries beneath the sands. Through advanced algorithms and Big Data analysis, scientists have been able to identify patterns invisible to the human eye, discovering geometric shapes and animal representations that offer us a new window into the past. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure in the pulsating Nazca Desert!
The 303 New Figures: ¿What Do They Reveal About Ancient Civilizations?
The number of geoglyphs discovered, almost as many as those found in the last century, allows their discoverers to explain what functions they may have had.
With the help of an artificial intelligence (AI) system, a group of archaeologists has discovered in just a few months almost as many geoglyphs in the Nazca Desert (Peru) as those found in the last century. The large number of new figures has allowed their discoverers to differentiate between two major types and offer an explanation for the possible motives or functions that led their creators, over 2,000 years ago, to draw them on the ground.
The Nazca Desert, covering an area of about 500 square kilometers and with an average altitude of 500 meters, has very unique climatic conditions. It hardly ever rains, hot air blocks the wind, and the soil is so dry that agriculture or livestock have not developed. Combined, all of this has allowed a series of lines and figures, created by arranging and aligning pebbles and stones, to be preserved for centuries.
The top layer of the soil is made up of a blanket of small reddish stones, and when they are lifted, a second, yellowish layer is exposed. This color contrast is the basis of the geoglyphs and is what the ancient Nazca civilization used to create them. Some are straight lines several kilometers long. Others are geometric shapes or straight-line figures, with enormous lengths averaging 90 meters.
The other major group consists of so-called relief geoglyphs, which are smaller. In the 1930s, Peruvian aviators discovered the first ones, and by the end of the century, just over a hundred had been identified, including the hummingbird, the frog, and the whale. Since 2004, supported by high-resolution satellite imagery, Japanese archaeologists have discovered 318 more, almost all of them relief geoglyphs. The same team, led by scientist Masato Sakai from Yamagata University (Japan), discovered 303 new geoglyphs in a single campaign. This time, they were aided by artificial intelligence.
¿What Does This Discovery Mean for the Future of Tourism in Nazca?
For decades, the Nazca Desert has been a pilgrimage destination for travelers fascinated by its ancient lines, but this new discovery is elevating tourist interest to another level. With more than 300 new figures to explore, updated tourist routes are being designed to offer visitors a completely unique experience.
Updated Tourist Routes: A Journey Into the Unexplored
Now, thanks to this discovery, tourist routes are being expanded to include the new figures uncovered by AI. These new itineraries offer an unforgettable experience, allowing visitors to discover parts of the desert that were previously inaccessible. In addition, with the option of aerial tours, travelers will be able to appreciate the lines from a unique perspective.
The discovery of 303 new figures in the Nazca Desert, thanks to artificial intelligence, marks a turning point in the history of archaeology and tourism in Peru. These enigmatic lines not only offer a deeper glimpse into ancient civilizations but also open up new routes and opportunities for travelers from around the world. Now, more than ever, is the perfect time to explore this vast desert and witness a revolutionary discovery that combines the best of modern technology with the mysteries of the past.
¿Are you ready to embark on this unique adventure? Don’t miss the opportunity to discover these new figures and explore the sands of the Nazca Desert in a completely renewed way. Book your tour now with Peru Grand Travel and be one of the first to experience this historical legacy revealed by artificial intelligence. ¡The Nazca Desert awaits!
