Researchers introduce TimeTravel, a benchmark dataset for evaluating large multimodal models (LMMs) on historical and cultural artifacts. The benchmark comprises 10,250 expert-verified samples across 266 cultures and 10 historical regions, designed to assess AI in tasks like classification and interpretation of manuscripts, artworks, inscriptions, and archaeological discoveries. The goal is to establish AI as a reliable partner in preserving cultural heritage and assisting researchers.
This paper introduces a large-scale historical corpus of written Arabic spanning 1400 years. The corpus was cleaned and processed using Arabic NLP tools, including identification of reused text. The study uses a novel automatic periodization algorithm to study the history of the Arabic language, confirming the division into Modern Standard and Classical Arabic. Why it matters: This resource enables further computational research into the evolution of Arabic and the development of NLP tools for historical texts.
Dr. Laila Nehme, a French archaeologist from CNRS, visited KAUST as part of the Winter Enrichment Program (WEP) to discuss her work on Mada’in Saleh, also known as Al-Hijr or Hegra. Nehme co-directs the Saudi-French Archaeological Project and specializes in Nabatean epigraphy, studying the daily life of the ancient Nabateans through unearthed remains. Her team, working with the Saudi Commission for Tourism and Antiquities, is beginning its third four-year program to study the site. Why it matters: The research sheds light on the historical significance of Mada’in Saleh, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Nabatean civilization's southernmost settlement, enhancing our understanding of the region's rich cultural heritage.
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.
Historian Mike Bruton spoke at KAUST about scientific disruptors from the House of Wisdom during the Islamic Golden Age. These scholars made contributions like introducing the concept of zero and debunking the Greek theory of sight. Ibn al-Haytham revolutionized knowledge of optics, demonstrating that light bounces off objects and enters our eyes. Why it matters: The lecture highlights the significant scientific advancements made during the Islamic Golden Age and their lasting impact on modern civilization.