An expert in archaeology offered a compelling overview of how emerging technologies are revolutionizing our understanding of ancient societies. Citing breakthroughs in DNA sequencing, light detection and ranging (LiDAR) scanning, and remote sensing, he described a future in which archaeology could answer profound questions about the origins of human societies, their interactions, and their responses to environmental challenges. These insights might help modern societies navigate contemporary issues like climate change and disease.
The following is the rapporteur report of an expert discussion held during the 2024 GESDA Summit. The author is a Villars Fellow.
Ideas from the Speakers
Revolutionizing Archaeology
The speaker opened the session by reflecting on how the past can feel distant and unfamiliar, a starting point to explore how science has transformed archaeology into a precise, data-driven discipline that reconstructs ancient lives in unprecedented detail. Archaeology, once focused on manual excavations and artifact analysis, has grown to incorporate sophisticated technologies that yield quantifiable data, altering the entire framework of the field. According to the expert, science has made archaeology more reliable, enabling accurate depictions of past climates, societal structures, and even genetic traits. Key technologies, such as stratigraphy, radiocarbon dating, and dendrochronology, have given way to more advanced methods like DNA sequencing, LiDAR scanning, and remote sensing, helping to construct a more comprehensive narrative of our shared history.
Breakthroughs in DNA Analysis
One of the most remarkable transformations lies in ancient DNA analysis. The speaker highlighted milestones, from the completion of the Human Genome Project in 1990 to the sequencing of the first Neanderthal genome in 2010, leading up to the sequencing of over 10,000 ancient genomes by 2023. DNA studies now provide insights into the lifestyles, family structures, and migration patterns of ancient populations, paving the way for future studies that could yield comprehensive biobanks of global ancient genomes. Over the next five to ten years, he projected that advances in DNA technology will allow researchers to study interpersonal interactions within past societies, offering a level of detail once thought impossible.
Understanding Past Climate and Societies
Alongside DNA analysis, advances in paleoclimatic studies were presented as vital tools for understanding the environmental conditions ancient societies endured. The speaker described the development of more affordable and accessible paleoclimatic techniques, allowing researchers to uncover climatic data from previously understudied regions. By studying ancient ecosystems and the drivers of past extinctions, scientists hope to draw parallels to today’s ecological challenges. He argued that understanding how past societies adapted to climatic stressors could offer guidance on managing the ecological impacts of climate change today. For example, he suggested that studying past pandemics and diseases can inform future responses to global health crises, a subject that resonated strongly with another session in the GESDA Summit: Progressing Pandemic Preparedness. The expert proposed that collaboration with scientists, particularly in genomics and epidemiology, could reveal how ancient societies responded to disease outbreaks and environmental shifts. This echoes a recurring theme at the Summit: learning from historical resilience as a blueprint for future sustainability.
Innovations in Preservation
In world heritage studies, innovations like 3D laser scanning and LiDAR are transforming the preservation and documentation of archaeological sites. The speaker described how these technologies allow researchers to digitally reconstruct and monitor ancient artifacts and structures, offering an unprecedented level of precision. By using 1 cm-precision LiDAR in remote areas, archaeologists can build photogrammetric 3D models, aided by machine learning algorithms trained to reconstruct missing fragments of ancient texts and images. By digitally preserving heritage, scholars aim to safeguard cultural artifacts against threats such as natural disasters, conflicts, and the gradual degradation of physical structures. This commitment to preservation also aligns with the Summit’s broader mission to protect humanity’s heritage and knowledge for future generations.
Inclusion and Representation
However, open questions raised during the session concerned the inclusivity of archaeological research. While technological advances have made it possible to explore new dimensions of the past, some audience members expressed concern about the representation of marginalized or under documented groups in these studies. This gap highlights the importance of expanding archaeological studies to encompass diverse geographical and cultural areas. The vast majority of GESDA’s sessions emphasize that inclusion and accessibility must remain central to all future advances.
Bridging the Past and Future
In closing, the speaker underscored archaeology’s potential to bridge the past and future, referencing Winston Churchill, who is often credited with saying: “The farther back you look, the further ahead you can see.” This perspective reflects the overall mission of the Summit: foresight and anticipation. By learning from the past, we can better anticipate and prepare for the needs of future generations. As GESDA’s sessions range from synthetic biology to climate resilience, this session underscored that understanding our history is crucial for navigating our future. Through advanced technologies and historical insight, archaeology not only uncovers our past but also informs the decisions that will shape our future.
