Elon Musk has announced his entry into the world of archaeology, pledging financial support for projects aimed at rewriting history through innovative analysis of ancient findings.
Speaking during the presentation of the winning projects of the “Expandere Conscientiae Lumen” program — promoted by Ancient Rome Live and the American Institute for Roman Culture, with the support of the Musk Foundation — the billionaire emphasized his interest in using artificial intelligence (AI) to shed new light on humanity’s past.
Among the Italian winners were projects including:
- an underwater excavation in Ripa Puteolana in the Bay of Naples,
- pigment analysis behind Pompeii’s colors,
- research into the textile heritage of the Roman Empire,
- a 3D scan of Marcus Aurelius’ Column, and
- studies of hydraulic systems in the Roman theater of Aquinum.
Musk’s foundation donated $1 million to protect archaeological sites and enhance digital heritage.
“I’m deeply interested in history,” Musk said via video link, “and Rome is a major part of Western civilization’s story.”
He reflected on the rise and fall of civilizations and how AI could help “rewrite or even write a new book of history based entirely on archaeological materials,” closing long-standing gaps in historical knowledge.
As an example, Musk referred to ancient Egypt, explaining that the pyramids — long believed to have been built by slaves — were in fact “constructed mostly by seasonal agricultural workers” and served as “religious structures, similar to cathedrals.”
In total, 11 winning projects were awarded during the ceremony held at the Capitoline Hill in Rome. These include initiatives such as:
- preservation of Cyrene (Libya),
- documentation of Greco-Roman heritage in Jordan,
- promotion of Roman archaeology in Morocco,
- conservation of the Palace of Theodosius in Stobi, North Macedonia,
- restoration of the Roman city of Numluli in Tunisia, and
- preservation of religious monuments in the UNESCO World Heritage site of Butrint, Albania.
With this, Albania officially becomes part of Musk’s global effort to digitally preserve ancient civilizations through technology and innovation.
