Archaeology is moving from the dirt to the digital heavens
In short: Sarah Parcak is revolutionizing how we find lost civilizations. By using satellite imagery to scan the Earth's surface, she can identify hidden ruins that have remained invisible to ground-level explorers for centuries.
Parcak, a professor of anthropology, treats satellite pixels as her 'trenches.' By analyzing subtle variations in topography, geology, and plant life, she has identified over 3,000 ancient settlements, a dozen pyramids, and more than 1,000 lost tombs in Egypt alone. She also uncovered a massive ceremonial platform in Petra overlooked by millions of tourists, alongside a location thought to be North America's second Viking settlement.
This remote sensing approach allows for a scale of discovery previously impossible. Parcak has used these tools to create looting maps, identify Roman amphitheaters, and map the ancient Dacian capital. She is now launching GlobalXplorer, a crowdsourcing platform that invites the public to help discover and protect these sites before they are lost or looted.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: Help discover ancient ruins -- before it's too late | Sarah Parcak
- Also: Space Archaeologist Sarah Parcak Uses Satellites to Uncover Ancient Egyptian Ruins
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/ideas-help-discover-ancient-ruins-before-it-s-too-late-sarah-parca.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
