
15/08/2025
AI-guided drone swarms are now mapping ancient underground cities—without digging a single stone
In a high-tech archeology initiative led by teams in Turkey and Germany, researchers have deployed a swarm of AI-controlled drones equipped with ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to scan the Earth’s surface—and uncover vast underground cities without disturbing a single stone.
These lightweight quadcopters sweep low over suspected archeological sites. As their GPR arrays fire pulses into the ground, an AI system compiles the echo patterns in real-time, stitching together a high-resolution 3D map of what lies beneath—walls, tunnels, chambers, and artifacts.
Recently, the system revealed a massive subterranean city in Central Anatolia—nearly 18 stories deep—hidden under farmland. It had kitchens, ventilation shafts, cisterns, and places of worship. What would’ve taken years of excavation was visualized in just 48 hours.
The AI uses pattern recognition trained on known ancient structures to separate natural rock formations from man-made architecture. Unlike satellites, it works even through dense soil or rock, and the swarms can cover several square kilometers a day.
This method could revolutionize archeology, allowing non-invasive exploration of fragile or politically sensitive sites. Imagine discovering lost worlds—without ever lifting a shovel.