It was discovered by a team of researchers at Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, after they developed an incredible machine learning algorithm that helps them search the Rub al-Khali, more commonly known as the “Empty Quarter.” It covers more than 250,000 square miles on the Arabian Peninsula and is the largest area of continuous sand in the world.
The vast desert is home to the archaeological site of Saruq Al-Hadid – which we now understand contains evidence of human activity dating back 5,000 years.
So how did they manage to uncover such an incredible find?
Well, thanks to a new technique developed by the researchers themselves, which combines satellite imagery with artificial intelligence to “automate and improve the detection and mapping of archaeological features in the UAE and other desert regions.”
The driving force behind this research was to enable the UAE to discover archaeological sites and features hidden beneath the sand.
Given the climate and the fact that much of the country is desert, it was very difficult logistically to survey the desert from the ground. That’s why satellite data was key. Next, we needed technology that could see under the sand.
Dubai Culture, the government agency that manages the archaeological site, announced last year its intention to excavate the areas identified by the Khalifa University team.
The study’s authors now predict that “the techniques developed here could be adapted to better serve archaeological research in larger areas and similar environments, thereby shedding light on the past and guiding future studies.”
This research is a proof-of-concept for how SAR imagery and machine learning can guide archaeological research in a desert environment.
The methods developed work for all arid regions, and I hope we can apply them across the UAE and then transfer them to other desert areas in the region. These areas are still unexplored, but we know they have a cultural history.
