Artificial intelligence has discovered ancient civilizations over 5,000 years old hidden beneath some of the world's largest deserts, including one in the heart of the Dubai desert, without the use of a single shovel. In the Dubai desert, remains of human activity over 5,000 years old have been detected, including a buried city.
The discovery in the Dubai desert revealed ancient settlements and communication networks, indicating the presence of roads and settlements.
Advancements in remote sensing and data analysis using artificial intelligence have transformed archaeology, improving the efficiency and effectiveness of excavations. The integration of AI and Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) proved especially powerful. SAR technology provides high-resolution images of structures buried beneath the earth's surface, capable of penetrating natural barriers such as sand, vegetation, and ice.
By combining SAR data with machine learning algorithms, large areas are analyzed to reveal patterns indicating human-built structures, transforming the exploration of history by uncovering lost worlds without excavation. Artificial intelligence, learning from previous discoveries, quickly recognizes important features of civilizations and assists researchers in new discoveries.
"The application of artificial intelligence in archaeology is like having a time machine, and now we can look at history from completely new angles, angles that were difficult to imagine before," said one of the researchers of this project.
For centuries, shifting sands and harsh conditions have made the exploration and study of archaeological sites in the desert one of the most challenging scientific fields. Vast and sandy deserts may conceal remains of ancient civilizations beneath their dunes. The Rub' al Khali desert, known as one of the largest and most uninhabitable deserts in the world, has remained largely untouched due to its vastness and lack of natural features, receiving little attention from researchers.
In places such as Mongolia, the combination of SAR and AI has allowed researchers to trace trade routes, including the Silk Road.
The article was written with the assistance of a news analysis system.