Archaeology’s Ray Gun Era: Drones, LiDAR & AI on Digs

Forget the fine brush and khaki hat. Modern archaeology is a high-tech field deploying drones, multispectral cameras, ground-penetrating radar, and LiDAR to map ancient worlds without lifting a shovel. In this episode, we explore how the Israel Antiquities Authority runs hundreds of salvage excavations a year alongside construction projects, how AI is classifying pottery sherds and reading carbonized scrolls, and why the field has transformed demographically. If you think archaeology is Indiana Jones, this episode will change your mind.