Researchers use AI to unearth a 5,000-year-old civilization beneath the world's largest desert. But how?
ET OnlineLast Updated: Mar 17, 2025, 01:27:00 AM IST
For centuries, the vast Rub al-Khali—better known as the "Empty Quarter"—has remained an enigma, hiding whatever traces of history may have once flourished beneath its endless dunes. But now, thanks to cutting-edge artificial intelligence and satellite imaging, researchers have made a stunning discovery: evidence of a 5,000-year-old civilization buried beneath the world’s largest continuous sand desert.
The Breakthrough That Changed Everything
A team from Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi has developed a groundbreaking machine-learning algorithm capable of analyzing satellite imagery to detect hidden archaeological sites buried deep under layers of shifting sands. Their pioneering technology has led to a major revelation at Saruq Al-Hadid, a site already known for its historical significance but now revealing new secrets about ancient human settlements in the region.
"The driving force behind this research was to enable the UAE to discover archaeological sites and features hidden under the sand," said Dr. Diana Francis, head of the university’s Environmental and Geophysical Sciences (ENGEOS) Lab. "Given the climate and the fact that much of the country is desert, it was too difficult logistically to inspect the desert from the ground. That’s why satellite data was key. Then, we needed to have technology that can see beneath the sand."
A team from Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi has developed a groundbreaking machine-learning algorithm capable of analyzing satellite imagery to detect hidden archaeological sites buried deep under layers of shifting sands.
The Role of AI in Unraveling the Past
The newly developed AI algorithm uses Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery, allowing researchers to penetrate thick layers of sand and detect buried structures that traditional archaeological methods would struggle to find. The fusion of machine learning and remote sensing has transformed desert exploration, making it possible to map historical settlements without the need for extensive and costly excavation efforts.
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https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/researchers-use-ai-to-unearth-a-5000-year-old-civilization-beneath-the-worlds-largest-desert-but-how/articleshow/119087068.cms#google_vignette