AI is now being used everyday by nearly everyone. Whether you're using it as a home assistant or your doctor is using it for innovative research, it can be used for almost any purpose.

You can also use AI to create images, which can make you further question everything you see on the internet. However, AI helped researchers enhance hundreds of previously unknown ancient symbols in the Nazca Desert in Peru.

This is "a revolution in archaeological studies," stated a study based on these findings.

How AI Helped Uncover Unknown Symbols

AI is already changing the way we live, but its impact in archaeology has been instrumental, particularly in the Nazca Desert where hundreds of ancient symbols that were previously hidden for centuries have now been uncovered.

A team from Yamagata University in Japan and IBM Research used AI to analyze high-resolution aerial photos of the desert taken in 2015. By training AI to recognize patterns of previously documented geoglyphs, the team was able to identify almost 1,300 potential geoglyphs, 303 of which turned out to be new discoveries, nearly doubling the number of known geoglyphs in only six months.

Some of these symbols date all the way back to 200 BC and show figures like birds, spiders, plants, figures in headdresses, decapitated heads, and an orca with a knife.

Unlike the Nazca Lines that are visible from the air, these smaller symbols average about 30 feet in size and are often found near ancient footpaths, suggesting they likely had an important role in communication or community rituals.

Deciphering the New Symbols

While it's not totally clear why the Nazca people made these symbols, the leading theory in the study is that they created a sacred space, possibly serving as a site for pilgrimage. However, other theories suggest they were used in calendars, astronomy, irrigation, or for movement like dancing or running.

Either way, the new symbols revealed interesting trends.

The bigger, line-style geoglyphs that can be spotted from the air usually show plants or animals, while the smaller, relief-type ones often depict humans or scenes involving humans, such as a human sacrifice or domesticated llamas.

It was also revealed in the study that there were a network of paths in the desert, many which were near different groups of symbols.

The smaller geoglyphs were found along winding trails that the Nazca people likely used to view the symbols in smaller groups. The larger symbols were located near straight lines, squares, and trapezoids etched into the earth.

According to the study, these symbols were probably used for ceremonial purposes, such as the end of a pilgrimage, and could be seen as carefully planned, public spaces.

Why This Breakthrough is Important

This discovery is a game-changer for the field of archaeology. Archaeologists now have help uncovering anciet symbols faster and more accurately than ever.

In the past, finding and analyzing these symbols would have taken years of painstaking work, often requiring costly and time-consuming field surveys. But with AI's help, researchers can make discoveries in a fraction of the time. This makes it clear that AI isn't just a tool, but a way to transform how we understand the past.

These newly discovered symbols give us deeper insight into the lives and ancient Nazca culture. Understanding the meaning behind the geoglyphs could help us uncover even more about their rituals, communication methods, and their connection to the land.