PROTOCOL BETWEEN SARDINIA TOWARDS UNESCO, THE UNIVERSITIES OF CAGLIARI AND SASSARI AND DUKE UNIVERSITY
The International Pole of Artificial Intelligence in Archaeology, AI Archeo-HUB, an innovative international centre dedicated to the application of artificial intelligence in digital archaeology and the enhancement of the Sardinian nuragic heritage, will be established in the Manifattura Tabacchi in Cagliari.
The Memorandum of Understanding implementing the partnership between the La Sardegna verso l’Unesco Association , the University of Cagliari, the University of Sassari and Duke University was presented this morning at Sa Manifattura di Cagliari, in the presence, among others, of their respective representatives Pierpaolo Vargiu (President of La Sardegna verso l’Unesco), Francesco Mola (Magnifico Rettore UniCA), Gavino Mariotti (Magnifico Rettore UniSS) and Maurizio Forte (Duke professor).
AI Archeo-HUB stands as a global reference point for the application of the most advanced technologies in the archaeological field. The centre aims to combine innovative research, advanced interdisciplinary education and community involvement. By means of artificial intelligence technologies, the project will develop new models for the automatic classification of artefacts, detailed virtual reconstructions of architectural structures and predictions of new undiscovered archaeological sites. The inventorying and cataloguing of existing nuragic sites will also make use of automatic classification based on remote sensing and ‘machine learning’.
The international collaboration promoted by the project aims to disseminate the scientific results to the general public and to strengthen cultural tourism, with significant positive effects on the local economy. A new and unprecedented knowledge of the territory in fact brings not only cultural curiosity but new economic and investment prospects among museums, sites, routes and landscape enhancement.
Among the next planned activities will be the creation of an international summer school dedicated to artificial intelligence applicable to nuragic archaeology, a new and updated digital inventory of nuraghi and a neuro-cognitive study of nuragic architecture and art.
Pierpaolo Vargiu. “We are proud that Italy’s first ArcheoHub on artificial intelligence is born in Sardinia with the aim of increasing scientific knowledge and narration of the Nuragic civilisation. For “Sardinia towards Unesco” is a truly fundamental step in the rediscovery and enhancement of the ancient Sardinian civilisation that can change the perception of our island in the world’s collective imagination, multiplying its development opportunities. Thanks to new technologies and innovation challenges, today we are launching an extraordinary experiment in international collaboration that is already capturing the attention of experts from all over the world. This important synergy involving the Universities of Cagliari and Sassari and leading researchers in the field from Duke University in South Carolina once again testifies to the potential of ancient Sardinian civilisation as a central asset for Sardinia’s development and economic growth’.
Maurizio Forte, Duke University. “AI Archeo-HUB is an ambitious and stimulating challenge,” says Maurizio Forte, director of Duke University’s Dig@Lab. “We intend to create a research and training model different from the traditional ones, a permanent and interdisciplinary research laboratory that can set new standards in archaeological research and offer innovative tools for the valorisation of Sardinia’s cultural heritage. Artificial intelligence will be our driving force, but also a great opportunity to train young researchers at an international level thanks to specific research grants that we hope to award soon’.
Francesco Mola, UniCA. “Artificial intelligence is not only about engineering, electronics, but is a cultural issue, something very broad, on which the University is present. The theme is to promote not only the natural beauty of our region, but to be able to offer a unique cultural heritage: it is our duty to work in this field. Archeo Hub will better define what artificial intelligence can do for archaeology’.
Gavino Mariotti, UniSS: ‘Promoting our territory in terms of research is an attitude that has already brought enormous benefits, this project represents the element of coincidence between research and the aim of enhancing an asset of Sardinia that represents the island as a symbol, the nuraghi’.
The project is part of a broader strategic framework aimed at the candidature of the Sardinian Nuragic heritage in the UNESCO World Heritage List, a further recognition of the exceptional universal value of this ancient Mediterranean civilisation.