Architectural History & Preservation - Ancient Indian education systems like the Gurukul system emphasized holistic learning, encompassing life skills, moral values, and spiritual development [3] - Nalanda University, established in the 5th century CE, was an international university housing over 10,000 students and 2,000 teachers, attracting scholars from across Asia [6][7] - The decline of Nalanda University occurred around the 12th century due to invasion, resulting in the destruction of its infrastructure and a vast library containing approximately 9 million books [8] - Excavations at sites like Fanigiri reveal intricate stone carvings and architectural elements from the 1st century CE, highlighting the art and culture of the time [15] Restoration & Material Science - Traditional lime mortar, used for thousands of years, is presented as a primary building material, contrasting with the more recent adoption of cement in 1904 in India [21][22][23] - The industry emphasizes the importance of using original materials and techniques in restoration projects to preserve the integrity of age-old structures [21][23] - Initial restoration attempts using cement were unsuccessful, highlighting the need for traditional materials like lime mortar [23] Cultural Significance & Future Implications - Architecture plays a crucial role in preserving culture through art, serving as a reliable means of transferring cultural data to future generations [20] - Forgotten architectural forms represent not only physical structures but also lost systems, languages, values, and ways of learning [24] - Restoring ancient structures and preserving forgotten forms can inspire the present and shape the future by reminding us of past knowledge, design, and education [26]

US Secretary of State inaugurates Israeli settler-led archaeological site in Jerusalem https://t.co/c9fxYtARDJ ...

Project Overview - The project focuses on using deep learning and open AI to aid in archaeological site discovery, specifically in the Amazon rainforest [2][4][10] - The team developed a scalable system (AKOS) integrating open AI to enhance the system's intelligence [1] - The approach involves training classifiers on satellite images and lighter data to classify segments of the Amazon forest, dividing the region into 3x3 km tiles [2] - The team created an interactive website where users can explore potential sites in detail [3] Technical Approach - Deep learning is considered a valuable tool for discovering archaeological sites, especially in the Amazon [10] - GPT models are used as collaborators, assisting in decision-making by providing multiple solutions and discussing their strengths and weaknesses [12] - The team used GPT for summarization, providing detailed descriptions of potential spots to help archaeologists understand why the model chose them [16] Results and Findings - The model successfully identified potential discovery sites, which were confirmed through manual analysis based on archaeological knowledge [3][14] - The deep learning approach is scalable enough to scan the entire Amazon rainforest in a reasonable time [4] - Configuration changes improved the visibility of features, leading to the identification of over 100 potential sites [3] Future Plans - The team intends to make their work public to gather feedback and inspire further research [18] - They plan to improve their approach and share it with a broader community, potentially inspiring applications in other fields [18]

Archaeology & History - Archaeological excavations of the city have been ongoing for over three centuries [1] - The city has been utilized and potentially misused by various generations since its discovery [1] - Current excavations are described as pristine [1]

Research Focus - Researchers recreated faces of 2,500-year-old skulls found in India [1]

General Observation - Pompeii is often called a "lost city" [1] - Much of Pompeii remains unknown despite its exposure [1]

Excavations have uncovered new relics from the ancient city. The discoveries are magnificent—and pristine https://t.co/dEnpcaS6QIPhoto: Danilo Scarpati https://t.co/panbnHgXfg ...

In the three-odd centuries since archaeologists began uncovering Pompeii, it has been used—and, critics say, abused—by almost every generation. The new excavations, by contrast, are pristine https://t.co/FGIkwD9Mfo ...

People returned to live in Pompeii's ruins, archaeologists say https://t.co/B6ptlPJBIa ...

Archaeologists have unearthed a woman-dominated Neolithic Dawenkou culture in what is considered the birthplace of Chinese civilization https://t.co/bgcoklLUvo ...