Dark Mode Light Mode

Unearthing Ancient Waterways: How Cold War Spy Satellites and AI Are Revealing 3,000-Year-Old Qanats

Unearthing Ancient Waterways: How Cold War Spy Satellites and AI Are Revealing 3,000-Year-Old Qanats Unearthing Ancient Waterways: How Cold War Spy Satellites and AI Are Revealing 3,000-Year-Old Qanats

The remnants of the Cold War, once symbols of international tension, are now proving invaluable in uncovering the secrets of ancient civilizations. Surprisingly, photos from aging US spy satellites, combined with modern AI, are helping archaeologists locate and study qanats, sophisticated water systems dating back 3,000 years.

Archaeologists from the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology, facing the challenge of locating these buried water channels, turned to an innovative solution. They combined cutting-edge artificial intelligence with decades-old satellite imagery from the CORONA and HEXAGON spy satellite programs, originally designed for military surveillance during the Cold War. This unlikely pairing is yielding remarkable results, offering a promising new method for studying ancient engineering marvels.

Qanats: Ancient Engineering for Sustainable Water Management

Qanats are ingenious systems for water distribution in arid environments, consisting of underground channels that transport water from elevated sources to lower-lying areas. These channels emerge into open canals, providing a reliable water supply for communities. The system also includes service tunnels, crucial for maintenance and airflow, ensuring the long-term functionality of the qanat. These complex systems, found across the globe from China to the Iberian Peninsula, testify to the advanced engineering skills of ancient civilizations. As Hector Orengo, a researcher at the Catalan Institute of Classical Archaeology, explains, “These systems were extremely innovative. They allowed people to live in areas where it would have been unthinkable before.”

See also  The First Recreational Drug: A Journey Through Time

The Challenge of Locating Buried History

Despite their significance, locating these ancient waterways can be challenging. Political instability in regions like Afghanistan and Iran often restricts access for ground surveys, while traditional aerial imagery lacks the resolution needed for accurate identification, resulting in numerous false positives.

A Technological Leap: Cold War Satellites and AI Unite

To overcome these challenges, the research team employed a novel approach. They leveraged a deep learning algorithm known as You Only Look Once (YOLO) to analyze declassified satellite imagery from the US CORONA and HEXAGON spy satellites. Launched in the late 1950s and 1971 respectively, these satellites captured high-resolution images, now accessible through the U.S. Geological Survey.

See also  White Sands Footprints Confirm Early Human Presence in North America

The researchers trained YOLO to identify the subtle signs of qanats: lines of small holes, appearing as black or white dots in the satellite images, marking the access shafts used for construction and maintenance. The AI proved remarkably effective, achieving a success rate of over 88% in identifying qanats in Iran, Afghanistan, and Morocco.

Limitations and Future Potential

While this method represents a significant advance, it has limitations. The AI requires a certain level of image resolution and currently works best in desert environments, where most qanats are found. The researchers are optimistic about expanding its applicability to other regions by incorporating more diverse training data.

See also  Unusually Well-Preserved Roman Sandal Discovered in German Fort

Preserving the Past with Cold War Technology

The study of qanats provides valuable insights into the ingenuity of past civilizations. These ancient water systems, like the iconic Roman aqueducts, are testaments to human innovation. Iran’s qanats are even recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is a remarkable twist of history that Cold War spy satellites, initially designed for military purposes, are now playing a crucial role in preserving these invaluable remnants of our shared past.

Add a comment Add a comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *