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https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-sci-tech/ai-nazca-geoglyphs-peru-9702610/

Context:

Recently archaeologists, with the help of Artificial Intelligence (AI), have discovered hundreds of Geoglyphs in Nazca, Peru.

About Geoglyphs:

Geoglyphs are motifs created on the ground by manipulating surface stones, soil, or gravel.These formations often span significant areas, and their designs can range from simple geometric shapes to intricate, detailed depictions of animals, humans, or complex symbols.They are found in various parts of the world, with some of the most famous examples located in South America, particularly in the Nazca Lines of Peru.The topsoil in the desert has oxidized to a deep rust color, and the furrows stand out against the ground around them. The designs have largely escaped erosion and survived for thousands of years due to lack of rain and very little wind.Identifying Geoglyphs is very challenging, and it is almost impossible from ground level. From the skies, low-flying aircraft are needed, but the challenge is that the lower an aircraft flies, the less ground it covers.Thus a team of Japanese researchers in collaboration with IBM developed an AI tool that can discern the faintest of outlines from aerial photographs. This AI helped the researchers to discover the smaller geoglyphs with ease.

About Nazca Lines:

Nazca lines are the group of over 700 groglyphs made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in Southern Peru.

The Nazca geoglyphs were built by removing rocks and earth to create “negative” images.

They were created between 500 BC and 500 AD.

The Nazca Lines were discovered by hikers in the mid 1920s.

Peruvian archaeologist Toribio Mejia Xesspe first systematically studied the Nazca lines in 1926

The Nazca lines in 1994 were designated as UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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Picture Courtesy: WIKIPEDIA

Read about Geoglyphs: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/geoglyph

Read about Peru: https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/peru#:~:text=It%20lies%20wholly%20in%20the,west%20by%20the%20Pacific%20Ocean.

Source:

INDIAN EXPRESS

Practice Question

Q:Consider the following statements about Geoglyphs:

Geoglyphs are large motifs designed on the walls of old caves.
They were created using natural colors.
They are found in various parts of the world, with some of the most famous examples located in South America, particularly in the Nazca Lines of Peru.

Select the correct answer:
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c ) 3 only
(d) None

Answer: c
Explanation:
Statement 1 is incorrect.
Geoglyphs are large designs or motifs produced on the ground, typically created by arranging stones, gravel, earth, or other durable elements to create a visual or artistic representation.

Statement 2 is incorrect.
Geoglyphs are motifs created on the ground by manipulating surface stones, soil, or gravel.

Statement 3 is correct.
They are found in various parts of the world, with some of the most famous examples located in South America, particularly in the Nazca Lines of Peru.