AI spots Mesopotamian archaeological sites in satellite images

AI spots Mesopotamian archaeological sites in satellite images

An artificial intelligence can identify sites of Mesopotamian remains with 80 per cent accuracy – it could help archaeologists quickly work out where to dig



Technology



21 February 2023

By Chris Stokel-Walker

Map of part of Maysan province, Iraq, showing the predicted location of archaeological sites

An AI model predicted places (yellow) in Maysan province, Iraq, that should hide archaeological sites. They match up well with potential sites identified by archaeologists (turquoise), but also reveal other potential places of interest

University of Bologna

Artificial intelligence could help archaeologists quickly identify new sites to investigate from satellite imagery or aerial photos, and even spot ones we might otherwise have missed.

Archaeology is a painstaking, often slow, process. It involves looking for sites that are buried and these aren’t always obvious from surface studies. Researchers currently use satellite photos to decide where …

No commitment, cancel anytime*

Offer ends 14th March 2023. *Cancel anytime within 14 days of payment to receive a refund on unserved issues.

Existing subscribers, please log in with your email address to link your account access.

Inclusive of applicable taxes (VAT)

MORE FROM NEW SCIENTIST

Netflix's The Dig review: An archaeology drama with impeccable acting

Netflix’s The Dig review: An archaeology drama with impeccable acting

Ralph Fiennes and Carey Mulligan star in Netflix’s film The Dig, which reimagines the excavation at Sutton Hoo, where a 27-metre burial ship was uncovered

A global fishing watch satellite screenshot

Global satellite map will help hunt down illegal fishing vessels

Using computer-vision algorithms to crunch through satellite image and shipping location data has revealed areas where ships may be catching seafood illegally

Goats were first domesticated in western Iran 10,000 years ago

Goats were first domesticated in western Iran 10,000 years ago

The earliest genetic evidence for goat domestication comes fossils of goats that lived in the Zagros Mountains of Iran about 10,000 years ago

Stepped platforms in Mesopotamia were the oldest known war memorial

Stepped platforms in Mesopotamia were the oldest known war memorial

More than 4300 years ago, people living in what is now Syria built an earthen monument filled with human remains, which were seemingly grouped into foot soldiers and charioteers. It was flooded in 1999 but now new details have emerged

Read More

Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search this website