AI Reveals Hidden Archaeological Treasures in the Desert: Unsealed Secrets Unearthed

Published Date::25/09/2024

Researchers in Abu Dhabi use machine learning and satellite imagery to identify potential archaeological sites in the desert.

On the northern edge of the Rub al-Khali, a vast desert on the Arabian Peninsula, lies a treasure trove of secrets buried in the sand. For centuries, archaeologists have been searching for clues to uncover the mysteries of the past, but the harsh terrain and limited resources have made it a daunting task. However, with the advent of artificial intelligence and satellite imagery, researchers at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi have developed a high-tech solution to searching huge, arid areas for potential archaeological sites.

Traditionally, archaeologists use ground surveys to detect potential sites of interest, but that can be time-consuming and difficult in harsh terrains like the desert. In recent years, remote sensing using optical satellite images from places like Google Earth has gained popularity in searching large areas for unusual features — but in the desert, sand and dust storms often obscure the ground in these images, while dune patterns can make it difficult to detect potential sites.

To overcome these challenges, the team created a machine learning algorithm to analyze images collected by synthetic aperture radar (SAR), a satellite imagery technique that uses radio waves to detect objects hidden beneath surfaces including vegetation, sand, soil, and ice. The algorithm was trained using data from a site already known to archaeologists  Saruq Al-Hadid, a settlement with evidence of 5,000 years of activity that is still being uncovered in the desert outside of Dubai.

Once the algorithm was trained, it gave the team an indication of other potential areas nearby that are still not excavated. The technology is precise to within 50 centimeters and can create 3D models of the expected structure that will give archaeologists a better idea of what’s buried below.

In collaboration with Dubai Culture, the government organization that manages the site, the team conducted a ground survey using a ground-penetrating radar, which “replicated what the satellite measured from space,” says Diana Francis, an atmospheric scientist and one of the lead researchers on the project.

Now, Dubai Culture plans to excavate the newly identified areas — and Francis hopes the technique can uncover more buried archaeological treasures in the future.

While the use of SAR imagery is not common in archaeology due to its cost and complexity, the use of it to identify buried sites is “really exciting,” says Amy Hatton, a PhD student at the Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology. Hatton notes that, by using SAR imagery, which bypasses the problem of light scatter from dust particles, Francis and her team solved technical details that make remote sensing difficult in desert regions.

Khalifa University isn’t alone in using artificial intelligence to detect potential sites. Amina Jambajanstsan, another PhD student at the Max Planck Institute, is using machine learning to speed up the “tedious job” of searching through high-resolution drone and satellite images for potential sites of interest.

Machine learning is finding more and more applications in archaeology, although not all researchers are excited about it. While technology could help identify and monitor archaeological sites — particularly ones under threat from land use changes, climate change, and looting — some researchers are wary of over-reliance on it.

The real test — and hopefully, validation — of the technology will happen next month when excavations begin at the Saruq Al Hadid complex, of which only an estimated 10% has been uncovered across a 2.3-square-mile area, according to Dubai Culture. If archaeologists find the structures the algorithm has predicted, Dubai Culture plans to use the technology to unearth more sites.

The team plans to continue training the machine learning algorithm to improve its precision, before expanding its use to other areas, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the deserts of Africa.

FAQS:

Q: What is the name of the desert where the researchers are searching for archaeological sites?

A: Rub al-Khali

Q: What technology is being used to detect potential archaeological sites?

A: Machine learning and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) satellite imagery

Q: What is the name of the settlement that is being excavated in the desert outside of Dubai?

A: Saruq Al-Hadid

Q: How precise is the technology used to detect potential archaeological sites?

A: Within 50 centimeters

Q: What is the ultimate goal of the research project?

A: To uncover more buried archaeological treasures in the desert

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