Space archaeology is a science. It includes lasers and spy satellites.

Sarah parker, an archaeologist and writer, in her new book, Archaeology of Space? No, you don't need a rocket or a spacesuit. However, sometimes lasers are also involved. And an infrared camera. And spy satellites. Welcome to the world of sarah parker. Parker, an archaeologist and anthropology professor at the University of Alabama in Birmingham, drew maps of sites around the world from space. She used satellite images from NASA and private companies to fly in high-altitude orbit.

Sensitive instruments can reveal details that scientists can't see on the ground, mark the position of walls, and even bury the whole city for thousands of years. In her new book Henry Holt and Co (2019), Parcak reveals how the spatial perspective has changed the field of archaeology. [Read excerpts from "Space Archaeology"]

Satellites analyze landscapes and use different parts of the spectrum to discover the buried remains of ancient civilizations. Parker told Field Science, but the study of archaeological sites started from a very humble (and low-tech) place. More than a century ago, when a member of the Royal Corps of Engineers photographed this 5,000-year-old Stonehenge monument from a hot air balloon, researchers conducted the first experiment overlooking the historical site. You can even see Pacek in this early blurred photo. The landscape around the site shows that there are buried features there.

Until the 1960s and 1970s, aerial photography continued to play an important role in archaeology. But when NASA launched its first satellite, it opened a "whole new world" for archaeologists in the 1980s and 1990s, Palka said.

In fact, the images decrypted from 1959 to 1972 by the American * * * Corona spy satellite program helped archaeologists rebuild an important position in the 1990s. The ruins in the Middle East have disappeared and been destroyed by urban expansion.

4,000 years ago, an eye in a tomb in Lister, Egypt. The expedition was led by Dr. Pacek and carried out in cooperation with the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities. (Provided by Sarah Parcak) "KDSP" Nowadays, aerial or satellite images captured by optical lens, thermal camera, infrared and lidar (light detection and ranging, a laser system) have been recognized as a part of archaeologists' toolbox. Archaeologists need as many tools as possible; Palka added that people think that there are millions of sites in the world that have not been discovered, but remote sensing is not unified; Different topography requires different space archaeological techniques. For example, in Egypt, sand layers make pyramids and cities disappear. In this type of landscape, high-resolution optical satellites reveal subtle differences on the surface, which may imply the underground structure.

Parcak explained that in areas with dense vegetation, such as Southeast Asia or Central America, lidar emits millions of light pulses, penetrating trees and detecting hidden buildings:

In her own works, Palka's analysis of satellite views led to the creation of a new map of the legendary Egyptian city of tanis, which was reflected in the famous film raiders of the lost ark. She wrote that satellite images of tanis revealed a huge network of buildings in the city. Previously, even if the site was excavated, it was not found.

Satellite images show that archaeologists on the ground can't see the underground wall of the ancient Egyptian city of tanis. (Provided by Sarah Palka) If these stories about Palka's space archaeology make readers want more, they are lucky. Parcak has launched and run an online platform called GlobalXplorer, where users can visit the satellite image library for browsing and annotation.

Ambitious "citizen scientists" can join the "activity" to help the ongoing search for lost cities and ancient buildings. According to the platform website, they can also help experts identify the signs of robbery of vulnerable websites. Since 20 17, about 80,000 users have evaluated140,000 satellite images and mapped 700 previously unknown major archaeological sites. Palka said,

Space Archaeology can be bought on Amazon.

There are seven amazing places to browse photos in Google Street View: the photo gallery of ancient Egyptian tombs decorated with biology: how technology reveals hidden artistic treasures was first published in Life Science.