Photo/Illutration A newly discovered geoglyph, left, in Peru's Nazca Lines has human form. The image, right, offers a clearer picture of what it depicts. The black rule at the bottom of the photo shows it is 4 meters wide. (Provided by Yamagata University)

Japanese researchers discovered 143 stunning geoglyphs of humans, birds, camels and other animals etched into the desert in southern Peru around the mysterious Nazca Lines.

One image was found using AI technology, which was backed up by an on-site investigation.

Yamagata University studied the area between 2016 and 2018, and announced its findings on Nov. 15.

A research team headed by Masato Sakai, a professor specializing in anthropology, said the geoglyphs are concentrated on the west side of the plateau, stretching about 10 kilometers north to south.

In its entirety, the Nazca plateau stretches 20 kilometers east to west and 15 km north to south.

Based on an on-site investigation begun in 2010 as well as aerial pictures, the team speculated that more geoglyphs existed than was previously known.

Until now, it was thought that 80 or so geoglyphs exist. The images discovered this time are believed to date to around 100 B.C.–A.D. 300. Large geoglyphs extend to more than 100 meters.

A 5-meter-long geoglyph depicting human form was discovered using AI technology in a tie-up with IBM Japan Ltd.

AI analysis of aerial footage indicated there are more than 500 other candidates sites.

Among them, researchers chose sites deemed highly likely to be geoglyphs, and confirmed that one was ancient ritual desert art after an on-site investigation.

(This article was written by Masato Nishida and Emi Aoyama.)