Italian researchers just discovered a huge new pyramid in Peru but, much to the joy of unemployed archaeologists everywhere, it’s still completely buried under the earth. Nicola Masini and Rosa Lasaponara of Italy’s National Research Council used sophisticated satellite imaging to detect the presence of the adobe pyramid, as it would be virtually impossible to find buried pyramids with regular aerial photography. In fact, archaeologists predict that this pyramid is only one of many in the area, but this is the first they’ve managed to locate with the new Quickbird satellite. Satellite pic and gold loot, after the jump:

In this infrared-based photo, white arrows indicate the four corners of the buried pyramid, while the black arrows point out structures that have not yet been identified:

The pyramid is very near by to the famous site of Cahuachi, which was the spiritual city center for the Nazca culture (100 B.C. to A.D. 500), so the pyramid is assumed to also be a Nazca building. The main pyramid at Cahuachi has already been excavated, and findings showed that the site was used for religious rituals and human sacrifice, so researchers expect to find similar evidence at the new pyramid. Here’s a sample of the kinds of Nazca artifacts they might find:

Hey! Human head with a rope in it. Perhaps more fun than soap-on-a-rope?

The Precious…

Aaaaand more heads…hey, whatever it takes to appease the gods, you know?

Bird-shaped ornaments (possibly meant to hang from the eye?) We would so rock these.

Not that we encourage cultural theft! But just saying, if we show up next week with a shiny new hat made of gold…cough…wink…don’t look at us like that.

More Guanabee-pyramid love
Ancient Peru pyramid spotted by satellite [MSNBC]