AI research uncovers 300 ancient etchings in Perus Nazca desert [Video]

Japanese scientists have used artificial intelligence to uncover 303 new etchings in Peru’s Nazca desert — doubling the amount of known geoglyphs made some 2,000 years ago by a pre-Inca civilization.

The fabled Nazca lines, a series of massive incisions on the desert floor depicting animals, plants, imaginary beings and geometric figures, have fascinated scientists ever since they were first discovered around a century ago.

Best viewed from the air, the lines situated some 220 miles (350 kilometers) south of Lima are one of Peru’s top tourist attractions.

Announcing the new discoveries in Lima on Monday, archaeologist Masato Sakai, from Yamagata University, said: “The use of AI in research has allowed us to map the distribution of geoglyphs in a faster and more precise way.”

He said the findings were the fruit of collaboration between his university’s Nazca Institute and the research division of the technology company IBM.

“The traditional …