Digital Heritage Project

Message from the Project Leader

My name is Yukinori Kawae. This project brings together researchers from history, archaeology, linguistics, the social sciences, and the natural sciences to promote interdisciplinary collaboration. We also aim to build a collaborative hub that connects researchers with private companies, public institutions, and other partners.

●Project Leader: Yukinori Kawae
Contact yukinegy[at]nagoya-u.jp
*Change “[at]” to “@”.

Project Details

— Discovering hidden treasures buried in ancient ruins.

People sometimes imagine that archaeology is all about finding valuable treasures. But in reality, it’s about careful observation, recording, and building a deep, accurate understanding based on data. What kind of cultures did people in the past create? What kind of environments did they live in? And how did their societies change over time? To explore these questions, we gather historical records, conduct fieldwork, and develop data that helps us see the bigger picture of human history over time.

In this project, we use various tools to collect and analyze images and texts. We also create archives and use data mining to push our research further. For example, we’ve carried out detailed 3D surveys of the Great Pyramids of Giza to study their structure in ways never done before. We’ve also used text mining to uncover hidden meanings in historical documents. These approaches are opening up entirely new ways to do research.

We’re also working with researchers from many different fields, such as space and earth sciences, and even law. By recreating historical sites in virtual space, we’re creating new educational experiences. And by digitally preserving cultural heritage and tourism resources, we’re also looking ahead to future economic impacts.

We hope this project will serve as a foundation for both current and future research to grow and shine even more brightly.

(Text by Tatsuro Ayatsuka)

Gallery

Financial resources

◆Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
“Elucidating the Construction Project of the Pyramids of Giza using 3D Data and AI”
◆World Scan Project, Inc.
“Research and Development of Ancient Egypt Survey by Integrated Science using 3D Technology and VR”
◆Nakajima Family (Hiroshi Nakajima and Ancestor Omohi) Research Base Environment Support Project

Publication

■YouTube/ Ancient Egypt by Yukinori Kawae (updated regularly)
https://www.youtube.com/@yukiancientegyp
■Magazine/ Newton September 2024 issue (7/26/2024; Supervisor) “The Latest Research on Ancient Egypt: How the Great Pyramids Were Constructed” (in Japanese)
■TV Broadcast/ NHK Academia (March 28, 2023) Yukinori Kawae (Egyptian Archaeologist)
https://www.nhk.jp/p/ts/XW1RWRY45R/episode/te/J642LRYP11/
■Article/ Nihon Keizai Shimbun web (2020/4/25; members only) “Drones, AI, and genome analysis: …… High-tech pioneers ancient research”
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGXMZO58391030T20C20A4BC8000/
■Article/ Nihon Keizai Shimbun web Human Discovery (2018/9/10; members only) “Egyptian Archaeologist Yukinori Kawae: Strip away the Mystery of the Pyramids (1)” *5 articles: 2018/9/10-14
https://www.nikkei.com/article/DGKKZO35157820Q8A910C1EAC000/?msockid=29e3df717a836aac1197cb607bf96b10
■Article/ NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC (2016/11) “An Anti-Indiana Jones is Solving the Pyramids’ Secrets -Using 3-D models, one archaeologist is recording the structures’ exact measurements.”
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/magazine/article/field-notes-egypt-pyramids-3-d-models