Digital Archaeology

About Digital Archaeology

The Institute for Digital Archaeology (IDA), operating under the domain digarch.com, was established in 2012 by its current Executive Director, Roger Michel. A graduate of Harvard and Oxford Universities, Michel founded the institute to merge new digital technologies with conventional archaeological methods. His background includes over two decades on the faculty at Boston University and being an honorary fellow of Trinity College, Oxford. The IDA functions as a collaborative initiative involving Harvard University, Oxford University, and Dubai's Museum of the Future, concentrating on the advancement and application of digital imaging and 3D printing in archaeology, art history, and museum conservation.

The organization's core mission is to utilize digital technologies for the preservation, study, and restoration of cultural heritage assets that are under threat of destruction. This is achieved through the creation of accessible digital archives that foster interdisciplinary collaboration and crowdsourced research. A significant part of the IDA's work involves stakeholder-driven initiatives to reconstruct objects and architecture lost to damage or vandalism. One of its most prominent projects was the full-scale replica of the Triumphal Arch of Palmyra, which was destroyed by ISIS. This replica was created using 3D computer models generated from photographs of the original site and was publicly displayed in international locations like London's Trafalgar Square, New York City, and Florence to send a message about the preservation of history against destruction.

The IDA's primary service is the application of digital technology to archaeology, which allows for non-invasive data collection, analysis, and visualization. This includes creating 3D models from satellite imagery and aerial photography, which aids in the interpretation and reconstruction of historical sites and artifacts. A major initiative is the Million Image Database, an open-source project aimed at creating a visual record of at-risk artifacts by distributing thousands of 3D cameras to volunteers in the Middle East and North Africa. The institute operates as a non-profit entity, with its projects and research being supported through partnerships with academic institutions, governments, and cultural organizations. The Director of Technology, Dr. Alexy Karenowska, a physicist and engineer from the University of Oxford, leads the technical team, focusing on 3D printing and machining technologies for restoration and replication.