Peruvian and Japanese researchers have uncovered more than one hundred other geoglyphs in and around the Peruvian Nazca Plains.
Representatives of the Paracas culture are said to have carved them into slopes there more than two thousand years ago.
The discovery could shed new information about the mysterious pre-Columbian artworks that have fascinated scientists and visitors for decades.
After two years of fieldwork using aerial photography and drones, Peruvian and Japanese researchers from Yamagata University earlier this month reported the discovery of 168 new specimens at the UNESCO World Heritage Site on Peru’s southern Pacific coast.
The geoglyphs, giant figures carved into the South American desert, are more than 2,000 years old and depict humans, cats, snakes, killer whales, birds, and native camelids—animals like llamas, guanacos, and alpacas.
Jorge Olano, chief archaeologist of the Nazca lineage research program, said the new figures average between two and six meters in length. The purpose of the Nazca Lines, which could only be seen from the air, remains a mystery.
However, the discoveries made this month are smaller and can be seen from the ground, Masato Sakai, a Yamagata University professor who led the study, told Reuters.
The figures, iconic remnants of Peru’s rich history, are about a three-hour drive from the capital, Lima. Since 2004, researchers had already discovered one hundred and ninety figures in the area.
But the vastness of the terrain they cover has complicated heritage exploration and preservation efforts. Yamagata University said the research results will be used in artificial intelligence-based surveys to help preserve the lines.
University studies in collaboration with the Peruvian government have helped delineate and protect the area threatened by urban and economic developments.
With information from latinapress
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