Artificial Intelligence is Detecting New Archaeological Sites in the Desert of Abu Dhabi. In the northern edge of the Rub al-Khali desert, hidden secrets are now being uncovered through advanced technology.
Known as “The Empty Quarter,” this vast expanse of 250,000 square miles (650,000 square kilometers) on the Arabian Peninsula looks desolate to the naked eye. But researchers at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi have found a way to peer beneath the sand, utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to discover archaeological treasures buried in the dunes.
Traditionally, archaeologists relied on ground surveys, a method that is often time-consuming and challenging, especially in harsh desert environments. In recent years, remote sensing has provided an alternative using satellite images from sources like Google Earth. However, Desert of Abu Dhabi terrains present unique challenges.
Sand and dust storms frequently obscure visibility, and the natural patterns of the dunes make it difficult to identify hidden sites using traditional satellite imagery.
Diana Francis, an atmospheric scientist and a lead researcher on this project, explains that her team needed a new method to help narrow down areas of archaeological interest.
This necessity led to the development of a machine learning algorithm capable of analyzing images obtained through synthetic aperture radar (SAR). Unlike optical satellite images, SAR uses radio waves to detect objects concealed beneath the surface, such as sand, soil, or even ice.
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SAR technology has been in use since the 1980s, and machine learning is becoming increasingly important in archaeology. However, combining these two technologies is a novel approach.
Francis and her team trained their algorithm using data from Saruq Al-Hadid, a known archaeological site outside of Dubai with a history dating back 5,000 years. Once trained, the AI model was able to predict potential archaeological areas that have yet to be excavated.
The precision of this technology is remarkable, capable of identifying buried structures to within 50 centimeters. It can also create detailed 3D models, giving archaeologists a clearer idea of what lies beneath the Desert of Abu Dhabi.
The research team conducted ground surveys with ground-penetrating radar in collaboration with Dubai Culture, confirming that their satellite data accurately reflected what was on the ground.
The success of this technology offers a new tool for archaeologists working in vast, difficult-to-explore areas like Desert of Abu Dhabi. With its accuracy and potential, AI could expedite what Francis calls the “tedious” process of manually searching for hidden sites.
Other researchers, such as Amy Hatton of the Max Planck Institute, are also excited about this breakthrough. She notes that using SAR allows researchers to bypass issues like light scatter from dust, making it a more efficient tool for Desert of Abu Dhabi archaeology.
While artificial intelligence and SAR imagery are valuable tools, some archaeologists remain cautious. Hugh Thomas from the University of Sydney emphasizes the need to balance technological solutions with human expertise.
He suggests that AI can be most useful in regions with low probabilities of archaeological discoveries, helping researchers allocate their time more efficiently to promising areas.
The ultimate test for this AI-based approach will come when Dubai Culture begins excavating the newly identified areas of the Saruq Al-Hadid site. So far, only 10% of this 6.2-square-kilometer site has been uncovered, but if the algorithm proves accurate, it could revolutionize how archaeologists search for sites across the Desert of Abu Dhabi.
Khalifa University’s team is already planning to expand the technology to other regions, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, African deserts and Desert of Abu Dhabi.
Artificial intelligence has made significant strides in shaping fields like cancer treatment and environmental science. Now, it is poised to reshape archaeology, offering unprecedented precision and efficiency in uncovering the hidden history beneath the sands of the Desert of Abu Dhabi.
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