View source for Egypt satellite imaging news

A University of Alabama at Birmingham archaeologist has discovered a
hidden world in Egypt.
Sarah Parcak, Ph.D., an Egyptologist and assistant professor of
archaeology at UAB, used infra-red satellite imaging to discover 17
lost pyramids as well as more than 1,000 tombs and 3,100 ancient
settlements.
Her discoveries will be revealed in the BBC documentary Egypt's Lost
Cities, which airs on BBC One and BBC One HD on Monday, May 30, 2011 –
in the United Kingdom. This will not be shown in the United States.
The Discovery Channel will air its own version of Parcak’s story with
new revelations later this summer.
Parcak’s research was funded by a grant from the BBC in hopes of
exploring how satellite imagery can be used in conjunction with
archaeology. For more than a year, Parcak’s team used a combination of
NASA and commercial satellites that orbited 700 km above the earth to
capture the images of Egyptian antiquities. She was able to uncover
sites that had been invisible – including a world of houses, tombs and
pyramids. Once the images were discovered via satellite, a team of
French excavators confirmed what Parcak saw in the images from space.
"I couldn't believe we could locate so many sites all over Egypt,” she
told the BBC. "To excavate a pyramid is the dream of every
archaeologist."
Parcak worked with Zari Hawass, Ph.D., Egypt’s Minister of State for
Antiquities, who was instrumental in her access to the excavation
sites, she said.
At Tanis, the site made famous by the Indiana Jones film Raiders of
the Lost Ark, Parcak discovered an ancient network of streets and
houses, which are completely invisible from the ground.
“This hints at the possibilities of discoveries to come,” she said. “I
am excited for my generation and the generations to come. There is
enough to be excavated for 50 generations to come.”
This is the first time Parcak has done a discovery on this a large a
scale, she said. She also plans to partner with Hawass for training
young Egyptians to do this work as well.
“It is important that we map out our ancient history before it’s
gone,” she said.
Stay tuned for more details about the upcoming Discovery Channel special.


Egyptian pyramids found by infra-red satellite images
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13522957

17 lost pyramids discovered in Egypt by space scientists
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43164447/ns/technology_and_science-science/

17 Lost Egyptian Pyramids Discovered By Space Archaeologists
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/05/25/lost-egyptian-pyramids-space_n_866870.html

How satellites are mapping our ancient past
Satellites using infra-red imaging are disclosing hidden
archaeological treasures such as entire ancient Egyptian cities
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/may/25/satellites-uncover-ancient-past

Undiscovered pyramids show up on satellite imagery
http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/story/2011/05/31/pyramids-found.html



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