- Japanese researchers and Peruvian archaeologists have discovered new geoglyphs in the Nazca lines.
- 168 geoglyphs have been found on the southern Pacific coast of Peru depicting cats, killer whales and snakes.
- The carved figures, averaging 6 to 19 feet in length, date from between 100 BCE and 300 CE.
After two years of scanning the southern Pacific coast of Peru with drones, taking aerial photos and conducting field surveys, researchers and archaeologists have discovered 168 additional geoglyphs in the mysterious Nazca Lines.
The massive, sculpted trenches – attributed by some to extraterrestrials – are the latest addition to more than 800 straight lines, 300 geometric figures and 70 designs of animals and plants, also called biomorphs, according to National Geographic.
A general view shows one of the images of the Nazca Lines found in the Nazca Plain as part of research by Peruvian and Japanese researchers from Yamagata University.
Yamagata University/Reuters
The newly discovered carved figures average between 6 and 19 feet in length and include the described figures of cats, snakes, killer whales and alpacas, according to A declaration published by Yamagata University, which conducted the research. Previously known lines are up to 1,200 feet.
Researchers from the University of Yamagata, who carried out the mapping with the help of Peruvian archaeologists, estimate that the geoglyphs date from between 100 BCE and 300 CE, around 1,700 to 2,100 year.
A general view shows one of the images of the Nazca Lines found in the Nazca Plain as part of research by Peruvian and Japanese researchers from Yamagata University.
Yamagata University/Reuters
Yamagata University researchers will collaborate with IBM’s TJ Watson Research Center to conduct an AI-based study of the distribution patterns of the latest Nazca geoglyphs, Art News reported.
The AI-based study is an extension of previous research that researchers have conductedwhich revealed 142 additional Nazca formations, including images of birds, monkeys, fish, snakes and foxes.
“The discovery of 41 geoglyphs in this area had been previously announced by the University of Yamagata in 2014 and 2015, which led to the creation of an archaeological park in 2017 in collaboration with the Peruvian Ministry of Culture to protect them “, read A declaration from Yamagata University announcing the discovery. With this discovery, a total of 77 geoglyphs are now known to be concentrated in this archaeological park.
Luis Jaime Castillo, a Peruvian archaeologist, told The Guardian that he suspects that only 5% of all existing Nazca lines have been found so far.
A general view shows one of the images of the Nazca Lines found in the Nazca Plain as part of research by Peruvian and Japanese researchers from Yamagata University.
Yamagata University/Handout via REUTERS
Although the reason for the creation of the Nazca Lines remains unknown, some archaeologists believe the shapes had a sacred purpose or were the first lines of irrigation, while local guides believe the lines may be linked to sources of water or maps of the region.
First officially studied in 1926the exact methods used to create the lines, which are largely impossible to identify at ground level due to their size, also remain a mystery to researchers.
“These geoglyphs were created by removing black stones from the surface of the earth to expose a surface of white sand below,” read the statement from Yamagata University, although it is unclear how the black stone was removed.
In pop culture, mystery figures have sparked questions as to whether they were created by extraterrestrial visitors or as landing strips for ancient astronauts – especially because they are only recognizable from the air and human creators would have had no way of seeing their work with the limited technology of 2,000 years ago.
A general view shows one of the images of the Nazca Lines found in the Nazca Plain as part of research by Peruvian and Japanese researchers from Yamagata University.
Yamagata University/Handout via REUTERS
Ongoing geoglyph research seeks to reveal a pattern to the lines and has delineated the boundaries of the Unesco World Heritage on the southern coast of Peru, which Reuters reports is threatened by urban and economic developments.
“Some geoglyphs are at risk of being destroyed due to the recent expansion of mining-related workshops in the archaeological park,” said Yamagata University professor Masato Sakai who led the study. told Reuters.
Representatives for Yamagata University did not immediately respond to Insider’s request for comment.
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