Accessibility links

Breaking News

Digital Plan To Save Ancient Sites From Islamic State


Harvard and Oxford archeologists are planning to give out cameras capable of taking 3D images across the Middle East in an effort to preserve ancient sites and artefacts under threat from the Islamic State (IS) group.

Thousands of residents will be asked to capture images with cheap 3D cameras as part of the project by the Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA).

The images would be uploaded automatically to a database, and conservationists would then use 3D printing technology to build replicas of damaged buildings and artefacts.

The announcement of the $3 million project comes days after IS militants destroyed a 2,000-year-old temple in Palmyra, Syria.

According to IDA Executive Director Roger Michel, “By placing the record of our past in the digital realm, it will lie forever beyond the reach of vandals and terrorists.”

Based on reporting by the BBC and dailymail.co.uk

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG