Systemic decay of cultural heritage archives: How colonial extraction, climate crisis, and tech monopolies endanger ancient texts
Original framing: “As a ‘book scientist’ I work with microscopes, imaging technologies and AI to preserve ancient texts” — The Conversation - Global
Scientific methodology is central: microscopy, multispectral imaging, and AI algorithms are described as tools for preservation. The piece critiques how these technologies can replicate colonial biases if not carefully designed. The technical depth provides a solid scientific grounding for the argument.
The article weaves together scientific precision, historical injustice, and the lived realities of marginalised cultures, revealing that preservation cannot be a neutral technical exercise.
By treating manuscripts as dynamic ecosystems rooted in indigenous worldviews, we expose the paradox of heroic rescue narratives that mask systemic extraction. Future‑oriented, decolonial solutions—community‑run repositories, climate‑smart infrastructure, and open‑source AI—offer pathways to re‑balance power, safeguard heritage, and re‑imagine cultural memory as a shared, resilient commons.