Archeology from space | Sarah Parcak

Summary

In this TED Talk, an Egyptologist recounts her childhood fascination with sand dollars and how it evolved into a passion for archaeology. She discusses her groundbreaking use of satellite imagery to locate the lost ancient Egyptian city of Itjtawy, once the capital during the Middle Kingdom. By analyzing infrared satellite data and collaborating with local scientists, she discovered a dense layer of pottery and evidence of a jeweler's workshop, dating back to the Middle Kingdom. The project also aims to train young Egyptians in satellite technology for future discoveries.

Takeaways

• 🌊 The speaker's childhood fascination with finding sand dollars on the Maine coast led to a passion for archaeology.
• 🔭 The realization that traditional sight was insufficient for Egyptology led to the use of satellite imagery to explore ancient sites.
• 🏺 Infrared imaging revealed chemical changes in the landscape, indicating ancient Egyptian activities and materials.
• 🗺️ Satellite data was instrumental in locating the lost city of Itjtawy, which was the capital of ancient Egypt during the Middle Kingdom.
• 🏛️ Itjtawy was a significant center of art, architecture, and religion during the Middle Kingdom, approximately 4000 years ago.
• 📍 The site of Itjtawy was hypothesized to be near the pyramids of the kings who built it, within a vast flood plain.
• 🌊 The Nile's historical shifts buried the city, making it extremely difficult to locate.
• 🔬 Collaboration with Egyptian scientists and the use of coring techniques led to the discovery of pottery and evidence of a jeweler's workshop.
• 📈 The findings suggest a dense layer of human occupation dating back to the Middle Kingdom period.
• 💎 The discovery of carnelian, quartz, and agate points to the presence of an elite jeweler's workshop in Itjtawy.
• 🚀 Future plans include returning to the site to map it out and training young Egyptians in satellite technology for archaeological discoveries.

Q & A

What was the speaker's childhood activity that sparked her interest in archaeology?

The speaker's childhood activity was looking for sand dollars on the seashores of Maine, which her parents told her would bring her luck.

Why did the speaker feel that seeing with her naked eyes alone wasn't enough for her studies in Egyptology?

The speaker felt that seeing with her naked eyes alone wasn't enough because the scale of her 'beach' in Egypt was much larger, and she needed to see differently to map the past.

How does the use of infrared technology help in identifying archaeological sites?

Infrared technology helps by revealing chemical changes to the landscape caused by ancient building materials and activities, which are not visible to the naked eye.

What is the significance of the city of Itjtawy in ancient Egyptian history?

Itjtawy was the capital of ancient Egypt for over four hundred years during the Middle Kingdom period, which was a time of great renaissance for Egyptian art, architecture, and religion.

Where is the city of Itjtawy located?

The city of Itjtawy is located in the Faiyum of Egypt.

Why was it challenging to find the city of Itjtawy?

It was challenging to find Itjtawy because it was buried under a vast flood plain, and the Nile had shifted, covering the city.

How did the speaker and her team use NASA topography data to locate the city of Itjtawy?

They used NASA topography data to map out subtle changes in the landscape, which helped them identify where the Nile used to flow and locate a slight raised area that could be the city.

What did the coring work reveal about the potential location of Itjtawy?

The coring work revealed a dense layer of pottery five meters down, indicating human occupation for several hundred years dating to the Middle Kingdom period.

What evidence was found that suggested the presence of a jeweler's workshop at the site?

Work stones such as carnelian, quartz, and agate, which were commonly used in Middle Kingdom jewelry, were found at the site.

What is the speaker's plan for the future regarding the site of Itjtawy?

The speaker plans to return to the site to map it out and train young Egyptians in satellite technology to enable them to make discoveries as well.

What is the significance of the quote the speaker shared from the Middle Kingdom?

The quote emphasizes the importance of sharing knowledge, which aligns with the speaker's mission to use satellite technology for archaeological discoveries and to educate others.