The new power of archaeology
Artificial intelligence is helping archaeologists uncover stories of the past in ways that would have been impossible only a few years ago. A recent example shows this transformation in action. Researchers used an AI model to examine satellite images and successfully identified 303 new geoglyphs in the coastal desert of southern Peru. These hidden markings doubled the known number of geoglyphs in the region and opened a new window into the cultural practices of ancient societies.
What makes this development stand out is how AI changed the pace and scope of discovery. Instead of relying solely on ground-surveys, archaeologists tapped into terabytes of aerial and satellite imagery. The AI system scanned for subtle features in the landscape, flagged potential patterns, and narrowed down the list for field verification. This approach turned what could have been many years of work into a matter of months.
For the field of archaeology this moment matters in three main ways. First, it expands the catalogue of known sites and art-forms, enriching our understanding of human history in regions where preservation conditions are harsh and visibility is low. Second, it changes how archaeologists will work: data scientists, drone operators, remote-sensing experts and field archaeologists are now coming together in integrated teams. Third, it signals a shift toward predictive and large-scale surveys rather than only reactive excavations.
In short, AI is making the invisible visible and turning remote landscapes into readable historical records. The discovery of the new Peruvian geoglyphs is a signpost of how archaeology in the 2020s is evolving into a data-driven science of human settlement, art and environment.
References
“Artificial Intelligence Solves One of Archaeology’s Biggest Puzzles in History.” Daily Galaxy, 2025. https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/08/artificial-intelligence-solves-one-of-archaeologys-biggest-puzzles-in-history/
“A.I. is changing how archaeologists study the past.” The Art Newspaper, April 14 2025. https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2025/04/14/how-ai-models-are-helping-archaeologists-to-find-new-sites-faster
“AI solves more than a century of research in six months on one of the greatest mysteries in the history of archaeology.” AS Com, September 25 2025. https://en.as.com/meristation/news/ai-solves-more-than-a-century-of-research-in-six-months-on-one-of-the-greatest-mysteries-in-the-history-of-archaeology-n/
