Archaeology From Space: How the Future Shapes Our Past

National Geographic Fellow and TED Prize-winner Dr. Sarah Parcak welcomes you to the brave new world of “space archaeology,” a growing field of exploration that has brought humanity to a tipping point of mass discovery in the ancient world Dr. Sarah Parcak pioneers the young field of satellite archaeology, using futuristic tools to unlock secrets from the past and transform how discoveries are made. As an archaeologist, she has worked on remote sensing projects across twelve countries and four continents, using multispectral and high-resolution satellite imagery analysis to identify thousands of potential archaeological sites. These include previously unknown settlements, roads, fortresses, palaces, tombs, and even potential pyramids. She presently directs major crowdsourcing efforts to map ancient civilizations across Peru and India. In Archaeology from Space, Sarah describes the field’s evolution, major discoveries, and future potential. From surprise advancements after the declassification of spy photography, to a new map of the mythical Egyptian city of Tanis, she shares her field’s biggest discoveries, revealing why space archaeology is not only exciting but essential to the preservation of the world’s ancient treasures for future generations.