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Utilizing artificial intelligence to uncover the Kingdom’s ancient stone structures

KAUST · · Significant research

Research Archaeology CV AI Saudi Arabia

Summary

KAUST researchers are using AI to analyze satellite imagery for the automated detection of ancient stone structures in northwest Saudi Arabia, including mustatils (rectangular structures dating to the late 6th millennium BCE) and ruins in circular and triangular shapes. They developed a deep learning algorithm trained on manually identified datasets to isolate similar features over a wide area. The tool converts detected pixels into geodetic coordinates using GPS, assembling them into an online map and database. Why it matters: This project exemplifies computational archaeology, speeding up archaeological discoveries, promoting cultural heritage, and providing a methodology useful to other sectors of the economy.

Keywords

KAUST · AI · archaeology · stone structures · mustatils

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