# Google researcher’s AI “discovery” of Maya site was already documented

> Pietro Miotti’s claim of finding a new Maya settlement was debunked when archaeologists noted the site was published in a 2025 journal.

Oossa · 2026-11-12 · https://oossa.com/en/google-researcher-s-ai-discovery-of-maya-site-was-already-documented

Google researcher Pietro Miotti used a team of 48 AI agents to scan NASA lidar data for unknown Maya sites. He announced a “major village” that he said was not in any registry. Archaeologists pointed out the site had been described in a peer‑reviewed paper last year. Miotti acknowledged the mistake and said the episode shows AI tools still need expert guidance.

## The facts

- Miotti’s claim was made in early November 2026.
- The site was already published in a 2025 academic journal.

## Why it matters

It shows that without specialist knowledge, AI can repeat known findings, so archaeologists must still verify AI‑generated leads.

## Sources & references

1. [No, AI agents did not discover a previously unknown Maya site](https://www.theverge.com/ai-artificial-intelligence/1032125/ai-agents-maya-site-archeology-discovery) – The Verge, 2026-11-12

Last updated: 2026-11-12