Buried and forgotten: How modern tech helps rediscover hidden treasures of past

Our species’ story is one of continual advancements in technology. Sadly, many of our past successes (unless they are continued in use to the present day) have been lost to the sands of time.

However, thanks to more modern technological advancements, we can fill some of history’s blank pages—a fitting application of this most basic of human endeavors.

Let’s find out.

1. 3D scanning and printing is a powerful technology for archaeology

One of the most revolutionary technologies that can help us rediscover the long-lost past is 3D scanning and 3D printing . The former is a powerful tool enabling archaeologists to quickly produce precise digital copies of artifacts, structures, and even entire sites.

3D scanning enables archaeologists to study objects and sites in far more detail than they might be able to do with priceless artifacts or very fragile finds. 3D renderings can be manipulated, expanded, shrunk, sliced, and studied without risking the original pieces.

For large sites, 3D scans enable them to explore them in ways impossible in the field. Where applicable, 3D digital models can also be turned into 3D replica models thanks to 3D printing, providing other ways to study them without risking damaging the original.

While relatively new tools , these technologies will continue to gain utility over the coming years as archaeologists experiment with them.

2. Satellite imaging is helping with new discoveries at various sites

Another high-tech tool that is helping make interesting archaeological discoveries is satellite imaging. High-resolution and multispectral imaging from satellites can help find potential buried structures, ancient roads, and even lost cities.

This is especially true in remote areas like deep forests or deserts. Satellites are also great for scanning large land areas far more quickly and accurately than people ever could.

This is not just theory. Satellite imagery has been producing results for many years now. In 2011 , for example, a team of archaeologists used this technology to identify new pyramids, tombs, and ancient settlements in Egypt.

Based on these leads, conventional excavations were commissioned to study the potential areas of interest.

3. Artificial intelligence can decipher ancient languages

Artificial intelligence (AI) is all the rage right now, but it has been used in various scientific fields for many years. One of these is archaeology, of course, specifically in helping us decipher long-lost languages.

Its ability to handle enormous data sets and lightning-fast processing is helping archaeologists and linguists gain new insights into ancient scripts. Some prime examples include Linear B from Greece and Mayan glyphs.

With the former, researchers from Oxford University were able to develop an AI (specifically machine learning) that helped them identify previously unknown words within the script. This helped verify many years of academic study and provided new ways to understand it better and interpret examples found in Greece.

A combination of traditional academic institutions and Google AI has made interesting advancements in helping to interpret Mayan glyphs.

4. Ground-penetrating radar is an invaluable technology for finding buried treasures

Ground-penetrating radar (GPR for short) is another modern technology that has changed archaeology. This noninvasive geophysical tool enables archaeologists to explore the ground under their feet to find structures hidden on the surface.

As the name suggests, the technique fires radar signals into the ground and then analyzes the return signals to see what’s happening down there.

It is useful for finding buried objects, structures, and general subsurface geology to determine whether any manmade stuff is present.

This technique is often used during the initial stages of archaeological studies to help find potential “ripe” locations for trenches. It is also an excellent technique for “fishing” for potential sites over large areas in a relatively short period.

5. Seeing the unseen with muon tomography

Another promising new archaeological surveying technique is something called muon tomography . This technique uses cosmic ray muons to help create high-resolution, 3D images of volumetric structures (like voids or spaces) using a phenomenon called Coulomb scattering.

For those who are unaware, muons are subatomic particles produced by cosmic rays that can penetrate deep into the Earth’s surface. This makes them an ideal option for exploring deep into the Earth’s surface to search for long-lost structures like buried archaeological sites.

This technique reveals hidden chambers and structures within ancient monuments, providing invaluable insights into historical sites. A notable example of its success is discovering a substantial void within Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt. This remarkable find had eluded detection for thousands of years.

6. Robots and drones can go where people can’t

For all the skill of human archaeologists, they are too valuable (or large) to send into very tight spaces or dangerous areas. For this reason, robots (and drones) have proved invaluable for exploring inaccessible areas on archaeological sites.

Drones can safely reach underwater ruins, collapsed structures, and other inaccessible areas. These little robots are equipped with cameras, sensors, and other tools for safe inspection and sample capture where applicable.

Thanks to this technology, archaeologists are making groundbreaking discoveries of many sites that were once believed to have been fully explored. Again, the pyramids of Giza are a prime example.

7. The rise of bioarcheology and microbial DNA

Finally, bioarcheology is another modern technology that helps us understand the past. Historically known as osteoarcheology, it is the study of bones and other biological materials found in archeological remains to provide information about human life or the environment in the past.

This enables archeologists to glean valuable information on the diet, general health, and even cause of death of some individuals found buried. It also encompasses the analysis of DNA from buried remains and even microbes.

This combination of data enables archaeologists better to understand past societies more viscerally.

And that’s your lot for today.

Technology has been an integral part of our species’ story since the beginning of the new phase of our civilization. It is only fitting that this unique human trait is helping us uncover the lost secrets of our past.

Who knows what new technologies in the future will help us rediscover our long-lost ancestors?