Putting history in pixels

This year marks the third anniversary of China's Global Civilisation Initiative. Over the past three years, cultural exchange and mutual learning have flourished across continents, from Asia to Africa. At the archaeological site of Memphis in Egypt, Chinese-developed digital technology is now creating "annual rings" of memory for a civilisation dating back to the pharaohs. 

On 19 February, Egypt's Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities revealed that a limestone structure had been discovered at the Tel Aziz site by the China-Egypt joint archaeological team. It is thought to form part of a temple from Pharaoh Apries' reign. More than the discovery itself, Egyptian archaeologists were struck by the technological detail: every soil layer and artefact was systematically recorded using the Space-Time Backtracking System. 

The system was developed under the guidance of Cui Yan, founder of 4Dage, together with the China Cultural Heritage Information and Consulting Centre, Peking University, and the Shandong Provincial Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology. It provides a fully traceable and reconstructable digital archive of Memphis, preserving a history spanning 5,000 years. 

A digital breakthrough 

"Archaeology is a process, and we record every stage of excavation," Cui explained. "From when and where a site is dug, to how many artefacts are uncovered and the precise layer each item comes from, everything is documented and fully traceable." The reaction of Egyptian officials when they first encountered the system remains vivid in Cui's memory. "They were not only impressed; they were genuinely surprised that such advanced technology exists to document and protect cultural heritage."

Founded around 3100 B.C., Memphis once served as the capital during Egypt's Old Kingdom and became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1979. Traditional excavation methods, relying on written notes and photographs, often fail to capture the full intricacy of a site. The new system, described as digital tree rings, preserves the entire excavation with micrometre-level accuracy, creating a permanent digital record of every stage. 

Sherif Fathy, Egypt's minister of tourism and antiquities, praised the cooperation, expressing hope that the site's historical depth would be further revealed. 

Unlike previous projects relying on imported equipment, Cui's team employed Chinese hardware integrated with China's BeiDou Navigation System. This achievement reflects years of experience in cultural heritage digitisation and sets a new standard for the local development of archaeological technology. 

'Future ark' for cultural heritage 

The system that impressed Egyptian experts was not built overnight for this project. "I've always wanted to lead a team that uses digital technology to build an ‘ark' carrying cultural heritage into the future," Cui said. 

After studying artificial intelligence (AI) in Germany and earning a Ph.D. from the German Research Centre for Artificial Intelligence, he returned to China in 2014 to start his venture. Inspired by the Greater Bay Area's ability to turn research into practical applications, he focused on transforming core technologies into tools for cultural preservation. 

Cui's team has since developed precise 3D digital models for sites such as the Forbidden City, Pingyao Ancient City, the Longmen Grottoes, and Kaiping Diaolou and Villages. More than 10,000 immovable relics have been digitally preserved, ensuring a form of "eternal life" in virtual space. The team participated in China's fourth national cultural heritage survey, using digital twin methods to replicate structures with centimetre-level and sometimes millimetre-level precision across 120 cities and counties. 

AI is also applied to conservation. "We routinely monitor outdoor sites, which face environmental and human risks. Early detection allows us to intervene," Cui said. 

Beyond preservation, digitisation enables revitalisation. The team animates figures in scroll paintings such as Winter Games and Along the River During the Qingming Festival using AI skeletal binding. These once-static figures now move with realism. Online platforms allow the team to share hundreds of short features, presenting one artefact per day. "Technology carries the work, but the real aim is to tell the stories behind these relics," Cui explained. 

Preserving humanity's shared memory 

This year also marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries, coinciding with the China–Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. For Cui, cultural heritage protection is becoming an important avenue for collaboration. 

"Africa possesses rich cultural heritage, and collaboration with China in this field holds great potential," he observed. At Memphis, digital technologies are giving fresh life to a civilisation spanning 5,000 years, allowing its history to be explored in the modern age. The project exemplifies cultural exchange in action, showing how technological innovation can bridge continents while safeguarding shared heritage. 

Yet, what matters most to Cui is the broader significance for humanity. Tragic incidents, including the fire at Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris and the destruction of Brazil's National Museum, reveal the delicate nature of cultural heritage. He believes that thorough digital archives can help to protect against such irretrievable losses. 

"We hope to preserve detailed records not only for China but for cultural heritage worldwide," Cui said. "This project serves both the present and the future and is essential for maintaining humanity's shared civilisation."

More than 600 museums around the world have now adopted his team's space-time reconstruction system. Through digital innovation, Cui aims to build bridges of understanding and safeguard the shared legacy of humanity, presenting his work as a living embodiment of the Global Civilisation Initiative. 

Cui now serves as a deputy to the 14th National People's Congress. During this year's annual Two Sessions, he submitted proposals once again advocating for policies and standards on the integration of AI with cultural heritage protection. 

The China-Egypt joint archaeological team is set to resume excavations at Memphis in April. With 4Dage at the centre of the project's technology, it has sown the seeds of intercultural dialogue. Along the Nile, the Chinese-developed digital ark is playing a concrete role in safeguarding history.