In this conversation, Sarah Parcak, a pioneering professor of anthropology and expert in remote sensing, reveals how satellite imagery has led to the discovery of ancient pyramids and tombs in Egypt. She discusses the socio-political lessons from the Bronze Age Collapse, the importance of conservation alongside excavation, and the evolving technologies enhancing archaeological insights. Sarah also touches on cultural critiques, shares her favorite bluegrass artists, and emphasizes the need for community involvement in preserving cultural heritage.
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insights INSIGHT
Bronze Age Collapse Parallels
The Late Bronze Age collapse (1200 BC) was likely due to a combination of factors similar to today's.
These include climate change, wars, internal conflicts, and migration pressures, mirroring current global issues.
insights INSIGHT
Rethinking Societal Collapse
Societal "collapse" is often a misnomer, typically representing a systemic failure for the elite.
Cultures often persist in some form, even after such disruptions, highlighting the importance of examining what survives and evolves.
insights INSIGHT
Unveiling Ancient Technologies
Our understanding of ancient technologies is constantly evolving, with new discoveries continuously surprising us.
Advancements in scientific tools and techniques enable a deeper understanding of ancient ingenuity, leading to a golden age of archaeological discovery.
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In this book, Eric H. Cline examines the sudden and catastrophic collapse of the Late Bronze Age civilizations around 1177 B.C. He discusses how the victory of Pharaoh Ramses III over the Sea Peoples weakened Egypt and led to the decline of surrounding civilizations. Cline argues that the collapse was not caused by a single factor, but by a combination of invasions, revolts, earthquakes, drought, and the disruption of international trade routes. The book highlights the interdependence of these civilizations and how this interdependence hastened their dramatic collapse, ushering in a dark age that lasted centuries.
Archaeology from Space
Sarah Parcak
In 'Archaeology from Space', Sarah Parcak explores how satellite imagery has revolutionized archaeology by revealing thousands of previously unknown sites. The book delves into major discoveries, such as the mapping of the ancient Egyptian city of Tanis, and discusses the future potential of this technology in preserving cultural heritage. Parcak shares her experiences and insights into how space archaeology is transforming our understanding of human history.
What can new technology tell us about our ancient past? Archaeologist and remote sensing expert Sarah Parcak has used satellite imagery to discover over a dozen potential pyramids and thousands of tombs from ancient Egypt. A professor of anthropology and founding director of the Laboratory for Global Observation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, Sarah’s work combines technology, historical study, and cultural anthropology to advance discoveries about the past while navigating the political and ethical dilemmas that plague excavation work today.
She joined Tyler to discuss what caused the Bronze Age Collapse, how well we understand the level of ancient technologies, what archaeologists may learn from the discovery of more than a hundred coffins at the site of Saqqara, how far the Vikings really traveled, why conservation should be as much of a priority as excavation, the economics of looting networks, the inherently political nature of archaeology, Indiana Jones versus The Dig, her favorite contemporary bluegrass artists, the best archaeological sites to visit around the world, the merits of tools like Google Earth and Lidar, the long list of skills needed to be a modern archaeologist, which countries produce the best amateur space archaeologists, and more.
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