Space Archaeologist Wins $1M TED Prize

A technology-wielding archaeologist billed as a modern world “Indiana Jones” won a coveted million-dollar TED prize Monday for her work tracking antiquities and the looting of such wonders.

According to the NY Times, Dr. Parcak is teaming up with the Egyptian government to train authorities there to “thwart looters by involving community leaders in tourism activities connected to the ancient sites”.

In a statement released by TED, Parcak notes how devastating the conflagration of the Middle East has been to the archaeological record: “The last four and half years have been horrific for archaeology”.

Parcak is a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a National Geographic Fellow (as well as a former TED Fellow).

Parcak is now using data from satellite imagery to help combat looting at archaeological sites across the Middle East. Her work is especially critical given the recent desecration of history-rich artifacts and ruins in places like Palmyra, the ancient Syrian city that the Islamist militant group ISIS conquered earlier this year.

Parcak’s technique for finding these sites involves careful use of infrared imaging and computer software, both of which can suss out the noteworthy dig sites from the useless noise at at far greater accuracy than the human eye.

During her investigation, the professor captured images of the entirety of Egypt, where she discovered what might by new 17 unknown pyramids out of the already 138 confirmed ones, 3100 settlements and 1000 tombs; along with a large number of ancient treasures all over Europe, the Mediterranean and North Atlantic. “I am committed to using this Prize to engage the world in finding and protecting these global sites”. “The answer is yes, but we don’t know the scale”, she told The NY Times.

“I am one of many people documenting damage and looting at ancient sites from space – it is such a crucial tool”.

To us outsiders, being a “space archaeologist” sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie but it’s very real and it’s completely changing the way we look to the past. These satellites can accurately pinpoint sites/monuments on less than a meter terra film. These satellites contain most advanced infrared light emitters that can emit infrared light with longer wavelengths than visible light, hence, enabling it to penetrate the earth’s surface.

“I am honoured to receive the TED Prize, but it’s not about me; it’s about our field – and the thousands of men and women around the world, particularly in the Middle East, who are defending and protecting sites”, Parcak said. “The resolution of satellites has improved…so we are able to see so much more then even a few years ago”.