Buried Ancient Worlds Uncovered from Space - Space Archaeology!

Getting to downtown Orlando from the coast is not an easy drive for me, but I wasn't going to pass up the chance to miss this talk, sponsored by my doctoral university. I don't mention it much, but since childhood, I've been an Egyptology geek. I named my childhood cat Cleopatra and my grad school cat (still living) Nefertiti. I even considered ancient Egyptian names for my child. Around my house, you'll a spot Bastet statuette, an ankh mirror, and I just splurged on an Isis wall plaque (the goddess, not the terrorist group). Since childhood, it has been my desire to learn some basic hieroglyphics and visit the ancient sites of Egypt, though the turmoil in that part of the world makes that goal so difficult.

I saw a lecture by Dr. Sarah Parcak at the National Space Science & Technology Center when I lived in Huntsville 7 or 8 years ago. Most lectures go in one ear and out the other, but I remember this one. Her team uses satellite imagery and remote sensing techniques to discover previously unknown archaeological sites. From that talk years ago (unless I'm getting it confused with another), she even described how she can mark how the Nile River has changed position over time.

A Digital Revolution: Archaeology from Space by Sarah Parcak - September 23, 2015

Sarah Parcak began her talk last night by giving us good news: increased number of remote sensing satellites and improvements in the technology to lower costs have removed barriers to entry for her work. Imagery resolution has increased and image processing techniques have been improved, but there are more improvements to be made. Her advice to students: fail continuously to finally learn what works. I can relate to that advice.

Using a combination of image analysis, spectroscopy (I assume that's what's meant by chemical signatures), and lidar via satellites and aircraft, she is able to locate and identify previously unknown buried structures. She displayed a picture of rectangles and called them tombs, easily identifiable by their shape. She described the differences in moisture signatures and topography in Egyptian sites compared to the surrounding environment. Lidar can model the ground terrain through trees. Stunted roots in vegetation are another indicator of a buried structure. Satellite and aircraft work complement ground work.

She pointed to another image and explained that she can identify palaces and other residential areas. From understanding that higher class individuals would live closer to the palace, she can infer ancient class systems and how those people lived and worked.

Pointing out the details from the satellite imagery - September 23, 2015

It's impossible to know how many unknown sites in Egypt are left to discover, but if I heard her right, she estimates that only 0.001% are known! Her map of possible newly discovered sites in Egypt is extensive, far more than she can possible explore. Although her focus is primarily Egypt, she also works in other areas of the world such as Romania, Italy, Jordan, Viking territory, and even Alabama where she's based.

Looting and urban growth are a big problem. Looters use the same technology as she does to identify sites and profit from black market sales. As cities expand, unprotected ancient sites can become damaged in the growth. She advised that anyone who wants to see these sites should go now. I wish that I could!

Her work is inspirational to me. I spent my astronomy research years remotely sensing outward and my latter time at CASIS focusing on Earth observation remote sensing from the International Space Station for terrestrial benefit primarily for business/commerce. Space archeology is an application of space technology to inform of us our own human past. I can totally get behind that.