A team from the Japanese University of Yamagata's Nazca Institute discovered 303 previously unknown geoglyphs of humans and animals - all smaller than the vast geometric patterns that date from AD200-700 and stretch across more than 400 sq kilometres of the Nazca plateau.

The new figures, which date back to 200BC, provide a new understanding of the transition from the Paracas culture to the Nazcas, who later created the iconic hummingbird, monkey and whale figures that make up part of the UNESCO World Heritage site, Peru's most popular tourist attraction after Machu Picchu.