05 amazing ways modern technology has helped archeology.

The popular image of archaeologists carrying an assortment of miniature, dust-covered picks, brushes, and other analog tools is largely a thing of the past. If Indiana Jones were reimagined today, it would look a lot like a character from a science fiction movie, with scanners that can directly analyze the chemical composition of soil, and a probe that maps a general area. Use drone drones to explore archaeological sites, and even dangerous areas (thus avoiding those pesky snakes and stone traps).

In fact, the technology that now aids archaeologists has helped revolutionize and greatly expand our ancient and prehistoric knowledge and societies, and has helped make this field look pretty cool. available.

Here are 05 amazing ways modern technology has helped archeology.

1. Google Earth

Google Earth is the product of a satellite imaging project funded by the CIA. Since its launch in 2005, its functionality has been greatly expanded to include GPS, map routing capabilities, real estate industry presentations, flight simulators, and other games. tool for both. professional archaeologists

Archaeologists have used aerial photography for decades, long before the first satellites were launched into orbit. But Google Earth and open access satellite imaging software are used in basically the same way, the difference is that the resolution and range of the images these satellites take are much clearer and larger.

Hobbyists and professionals alike will locate potential sites by analyzing signs on the ground, or looking for traces of ancient structures. In one case, an amateur archaeologist identified a strange shape in the hedge line of a man's farm. The figure turns out to be the burial site of a large hoard of Saxon coins, worth $1.5 million.

However, while some archaeologists acknowledge that Google Earth has some benefits, they also fear that basically anyone could access this information and officially identify important archaeological sites. He can keep track of them before indexing and archiving.

2. Soil Geochemistry

Sometimes, archaeological remains can be so degraded by erosion and rot that little or no visual evidence is left for archaeologists to find. But humans always leave their footprints behind, and the development of technologies has allowed soil geochemistry to be analyzed, giving archaeologists more tools to unearth humanity's past.

When humans occupy the Earth, they alter soil chemistry in ways that can be detected using sophisticated analytical techniques and portable machines that can scan soil samples in the field. The portable Z300 is one such device, which is able to scan soil samples with its built-in camera and provide data in a few moments.

With this equipment, archaeologists can discover any element on the periodic table. These tools allow archaeologists to gain additional context about how people lived in these areas, as the elements in the soil directly indicate what type of technology and lifestyle they had.

3. Drone Technology

On average, at least three people die each year while exploring caves. The advantage of drones is that, as you know, they are not sentient, and therefore not fat and docile. Some archaeological sites are located in dangerous locations that may endanger human archaeologists. Using drones and other types of drones, archaeologists can map cave systems, allowing 3D maps with enough light for archaeologists to risk their lives.

This greatly speeds up the rate of archaeologists doing archaeological operations.

Before drone technology, archaeologists combed fields on foot, spending hours looking for potential sites for pottery and other artifacts. With the help of drones combined with good old foot surveying, they can reduce the time it takes to complete site mapping and surveying by a significant margin.

4. Ground Penetrating Radar

Geophysical survey methods are invaluable tools that allow archaeologists to determine where to focus their excavation efforts, and ground penetrating radar may be just the perfect tool for this work, as it is one of the only technologies that provides them with important information about a specific place. But it also lets them see what's under the surface of the site, without having to pick up a shovel.

The ground penetrating radar is also non-invasive, which means that important artifacts will not be damaged while digging. Electromagnetic radiation in the microwave range is used to image the ground beneath our feet.

This has led to some very startling discoveries, such as a Viking burial ship found beneath the surface of Norway in 2019. Ground-penetrating radar allows for very precise ship measurements and the discovery of a religious site, banquet hall and farm. 

5. CT Scanners and 3D Modeling Software

Fragile artifacts can easily be damaged when handled by scientists and students, potentially destroying invaluable information in the process. But thanks to tomography scanners and 3D modeling software, these artifacts can be accurately recreated and reconnected without the risk of damaging the original instrument.

High-resolution tomography uses X-rays that are then captured and processed into 2D and 3D images, and with advances in micro-CT technology, imaging samples can be made at the molecular level.

But laser-assisted 3D surface scanning is becoming more widely used in archaeology than CT technology. This technology creates high-resolution 3D models of specimens at a fraction of the cost of expensive CT scanners.

Although these scanners do not use X-rays, and cannot image things at the molecular level, they are often portable enough to be used with a laptop computer.