Blockchain technology will now help to validate cultural artifacts.
Opening the gates of history to the technology of today, computer scientist Adel Khelifi from the University of Abu Dhabi and archaeologist Mark Altaweel of University College London have collaborated to create Salsal.
This innovative solution leverages Web3 technology, promising a validation model for cultural artifacts that could revolutionize the heritage industry. This service taps into the potential of blockchain to offer authenticity and provenance checks for irreplaceable historical treasures.
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The global stage lacks a universally recognized registry for items of historical importance. This absence is felt despite numerous regions enacting laws that oversee the acquisition, preservation, and trading of culturally significant relics, particularly those discovered on public or safeguarded terrains.
As a result, numerous valuable artifacts are lost in the annals of history due to time, theft, or lack of proper cataloging. A glaring example is the disappearance of precious items such as the Honjo Masamune and the Crown Jewels of Ireland.
Salsal brings hope to this challenging landscape by establishing a comprehensive system for artifact identification, evaluation, and documentation, all powered by cutting-edge technological tools. In an interview, Altaweel stated that the Salsal service would cater primarily to "cultural heritage organizations."
The process begins when these organizations present their collections to Salsal. Images and detailed descriptions are then uploaded to the platform. Subsequently, a panel of experts employs an evaluation methodology akin to the one used by the Museums Association. Artifacts are assigned a grade on a five-point scale based on their authenticity and condition.
Once proven to be legitimate, the Collector can turn it into an NFT which is a Non-Fungible Token. We use NFTs as their data is stored on the Blockchain and is immutable, allowing us to document the transfer of ownership accurately.
The creators of Salsal are ambitious about the future of their service. They picture a world where museum curators seek Salsal's validation for their collections as a standard measure of authenticity. This would be a step comparable to having collectibles like comic books evaluated by a commercial grading company.
Although databases with information about historical artifacts exist, a unified blockchain-based system like Salsal could dramatically reduce theft and unauthorized excavation by necessitating provenance documentation for sellers and curators.
