Title: Archaeology from Space: How the Future Shapes Our Past
Author: Sarah Parcak
Publisher: Henry Holt 2019
Genre: Nonfiction
Pages: 283
Rating: 4/5 stars
Reading Challenges: Library; Goodreads Random
National Geographic Explorer and TED Prize-winner Dr. Sarah Parcak gives readers a personal tour of the evolution, major discoveries, and future potential of the young field of satellite archaeology. 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 urgently essential to the preservation of the world’s ancient treasures.
Parcak has worked in twelve countries and four continents, using multispectral and high-resolution satellite imagery to identify thousands of previously unknown settlements, roads, fortresses, palaces, tombs, and even potential pyramids. From there, her stories take us back in time and across borders, into the day-to-day lives of ancient humans whose traits and genes we share. And she shows us that if we heed the lessons of the past, we can shape a vibrant future.
I picked this one up from the library. A nice explanation of space archaeology, its growth and future. The science behind it was interesting, but I was more engaged with the passages detailing how it’s been used. I wanted the examples of discoveries and how they were found. I wanted more first hand accounts of discoveries and the process used. But overall, I really enjoyed this nonfiction book.
