When you think about archaeology, archaeology is the only field that allows us to tell the story of 99 percent of our history prior to 3,000 B.C. and writing. Sarah Parcak 000archaeologyfield Change image and share on social
Less than 1 percent of ancient Egypt has been discovered and excavated. With population pressures, urbanization, and modernization encroaching, we're in a race against time. Why not use the most advanced tools we have to map, quantify, and protect our past? Sarah Parcak advanceancientdiscover share on social
It's an important tool to focus where we're excavating. It gives us a much bigger perspective on archaeological sites. We have to think bigger, and that's what the satellites allow us to do. Sarah Parcak archaeologicalbigexcavate Change image and share on social
A lot of people are surprised when I talk so much about the present, but politics is just a crucial part of archaeology. Sarah Parcak archaeologycruciallot Change image and share on social
There's even an aircraft sensor system that sends down hundreds of thousands of pulses of light measured at different return rates. It allows you to literally strip away vegetation and see entire cities beneath the rain forest canopy. This is the unbelievable future of archaeology. Sarah Parcak aircraftarchaeologybeneath share on social
Satellites record data in different parts of the light spectrum that we can't see. And it's that information that allows satellites to be so powerful in terms of looking at things like vegetation health, finding different kinds of geology that may indicate an oil deposit or some kind of mineralogical deposit that can be mined. Sarah Parcak datumdepositfind share on social
When a wall is slowly covered over by earth, the materials it's made from decay and become part of the soils around and above it, sometimes causing vegetation above and next to the wall to grow faster or slower. Satellite imagery helps archaeologists to pick up these subtle changes. Sarah Parcak archaeologistcausecover share on social
We emphasise the features on satellite maps by adding colours to farmland, urban structures, archaeological sites, vegetation and water. Sarah Parcak addarchaeologicalcolour Change image and share on social
Looting speaks to a lack of economic opportunities - frankly, we all would loot, too, if our families' continued survival depended on it. Sarah Parcak continuedependeconomic Change image and share on social
Looting and site destruction are global problems. We have a tough road ahead, and one key will be developing more collaborations and using new technologies like satellite imagery. Sarah Parcak aheadcollaborationdestruction Change image and share on social