Eyes of the machine: AI-assisted satellite archaeological survey in the Andes

Abstract

Archaeological surveys conducted through the inspection of high-resolution satellite imagery promise to transform how archaeologists conduct large-scale regional and supra-regional research. However, conducting manual surveys of satellite imagery is labour- and time-intensive, and low target prevalence substantially increases the likelihood of miss-errors (false negatives). In this article, the authors compare the results of an imagery survey conducted using artificial intelligence computer vision techniques (Convolutional Neural Networks) to a survey conducted manually by a team of experts through the Geo-PACHA platform (for further details of the project, see Wernke et al. 2023). Results suggest that future surveys may benefit from a hybrid approach—combining manual and automated methods—to conduct an AI-assisted survey and improve data completeness and robustness.

Large-scale, collaborative imagery survey in archaeology: the Geospatial Platform for Andean Culture, History and Archaeology (GeoPACHA)

“…We had initially planned for the survey to last only 12 months, but as the first full year of the pandemic set in and it became clear that conducting fieldwork would continue to be impractical, we extended the project period. For two doctoral students, it provided a vital means of collecting dissertation research data (Whitlock et al 2023;Zimmer-Dauphinee et al 2023); for others, it provided a means of conducting remote work. The platform made it possible to build year-round research projects that were international and inclusive, by enabling project members to work together on a virtual platform that did not require the ability to traverse difficult terrain on foot.…”

“…Large-scale imagery survey through GeoPACHA enabled six teams to pursue distinct research questions in different areas of the Andes--the northern montaña and highlands, north coast, central coast, central highlands and southern highlands of Peru, and the circum-Titicaca Basin of Peru and Bolivia (Figure 1). Six of these studies (including this article) are presented in Antiquity (Arkush et al 2023;Marcone et al 2023;Spence Morrow et al 2023;Whitlock et al 2023;Zimmer-Dauphinee et al 2023).…”

Augmenting field data with archaeological imagery survey: mapping hilltop fortifications on the north coast of Peru

“…Targeted ground-truthing of novel sites will also be required before this level of analysis can take place. This movement back and forth between the datasets will allow for a reconsideration of feature categories that will serve to elaborate future iterations of GeoPACHA, and potentially have utility in creating training sets for automated survey using deep learning algorithms (see Zimmer-Dauphinee et al 2023). In the end, the fundamental importance of traditional pedestrian survey persists, but the added benefits of digital survey across vast areas, as offered by GeoPACHA, make clear that both methods can be employed in concert to reconsider previous surveys and afford continuous distributional views over areas too large to survey on foot.…”