December 2022's Top Archaeological Discoveries: Peru, UK, Italy, Turkey
A team from Yamagata University in Japan has identified 168 additional geoglyphs on Peru's Nazca Plateau, which date back to between 100 BC and 300 AD, raising the total count to 358. These figures, depicting both humans and animals, were detected through aerial photography. The research, led by professor Masato Sakai and archaeologist Jorge Olano, employs AI to analyze their distribution. Meanwhile, in Harpole, UK, an early medieval burial of a 7th-century Anglo-Saxon woman was uncovered, noted for its significance and featuring a gold necklace and a decorated cross. Additionally, a mosaic floor was discovered in the villa of Publius Vedius Pollio in Naples, Italy, and a nearly complete Roman statue from 2,000 years ago was found in Aizanoi, Turkey.
Key facts
- 168 new geoglyphs discovered on the Nazca Plateau in Peru by Yamagata University
- Geoglyphs date from 100 BC to 300 AD
- Total geoglyphs now 358, including 190 found before 2018
- New geoglyphs are smaller, up to 10 meters in diameter, along ancient paths
- AI study with IBM T.J. Watson Research Center on geoglyph distribution
- 7th-century Anglo-Saxon woman's burial found in Harpole, Northamptonshire
- Burial includes 30-piece gold necklace with garnets and semi-precious stones
- Mosaic floor discovered in Villa of Publius Vedio Pollione in Naples
- Mosaic hidden under baths for 2,000 years
- 2,000-year-old Roman statue recovered from Penkalas stream in Aizanoi, Turkey
- Statue nearly intact, missing half pedestal and one foot
- Excavation led by Dr. Gökhan Coşkun of Kütahya Dumlupınar University
Entities
Institutions
- Yamagata University
- IBM T.J. Watson Research Center
- Vistry Group
- University L'Orientale of Naples
- Ministry of Culture (Italy)
- Soprintendenza Archeologia, belle arti e paesaggio di Napoli
- Kütahya Dumlupınar University
- Parco Archeologico del Pausilypon
- Artribune
- The Guardian
- The European Times
Locations
- Nazca Plateau
- Peru
- Harpole
- Northamptonshire
- United Kingdom
- Naples
- Italy
- Parco Archeologico del Pausilypon
- Posillipo
- Aizanoi
- Turkey
- Penkalas stream