Preserving the past with tools of the future

BEGIN ARTICLE PREVIEW: Two participants from the winning team at the Tech4Heritage hackathon explain how they used AI- and Machine Learning (ML)-based solutions to restore ancient cave murals The murals of the Ajanta and Ellora caves are national treasures with the oldest areas of the truly breath-taking Ellora complex dating back to at least 1000 BCE, according to certain sources. This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains monuments featuring Hindu, Buddhist and Jain traditions, signifying religious harmony. Preservation of such sites will go a long way in helping build a strong national identity.However, these sites require constant attention. Having faced thousands of years of weathering, it is but a matter of time until the original murals at Ajanta disintegrate. In many other cases, such valuable treasures have been lost. Today technological tools like AI and automation help make the restoration process easier and more efficient. That was the aim of the Tech4Herita