Sarah Parcak
Sarah Parcak
Full Name and Common Aliases
Sarah Parcak is a renowned American archaeologist and professor.
Birth and Death Dates
Born on May 14, 1979, in St. Louis, Missouri.
Nationality and Profession(s)
Parcak's nationality is American, and she is a professional archaeologist and professor.
Early Life and Background
Growing up in a family of modest means, Parcak was fascinated by the past from an early age. Her parents encouraged her curiosity, fostering a love for history that would eventually drive her to become one of the world's leading archaeologists. She pursued her academic interests at Boston University, where she earned a Bachelor's degree in Anthropology and Archaeology.
Major Accomplishments
Parcak's groundbreaking work has pushed the boundaries of archaeological exploration. Her pioneering use of satellite imaging technology, coupled with artificial intelligence, has allowed her to identify thousands of previously unknown sites worldwide. This innovative approach, known as "Space Archaeology," has revolutionized the field and opened up new avenues for research.
Notable Works or Actions
Some of Parcak's notable works include:
Her discovery of a 4,000-year-old ancient city in Sudan using satellite imagery.
The identification of over 1,200 previously unknown sites in Egypt through her use of AI and satellite imaging.
Her work as a professor at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where she founded the CyArk project to create detailed digital models of cultural heritage sites.Impact and Legacy
Parcak's impact on archaeology has been profound. She has not only expanded our understanding of human history but also inspired a new generation of researchers to adopt innovative approaches to their work. Her efforts to preserve cultural heritage have earned her recognition from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Parcak is widely quoted and remembered for her:
Innovative use of technology in archaeology.
Passionate advocacy for preserving cultural heritage sites.
Commitment to making history accessible to a broader audience through her work with CyArk.
Quotes by Sarah Parcak
Sarah Parcak's insights on:
The looters are using Google Earth, too. They're coming in with metal detectors and geophysical equipment. Some ask me to confirm sites.
You think looting is bad in Egypt, look at Peru, India, China. I've been told in China there are over a quarter-million archaeological sites, and most have been looted. This is a global problem of massive proportions, and we don't know the scale.
I'm looking at looting photos from space, and there are people putting their lives on the line every day protecting their heritage. I call these people the real culture heroes.
We're literally just beginning to learn how to use satellites to find sites. More and more people are realizing there's this incredible tool.
Looting has an immense impact on our ability to understand our global cultural heritage; once these objects are gone, so too is our chance of piecing together humanity's shared story.
That's what I want to do, ultimately: figure out a way to get the world engaged with discovery and protecting these ancient sites.
I hope my work contributes to understanding long-term patterns of human behavior and how we survive, thrive, or fail during times of environmental, social, and economic crisis.
WorldView-3 goes into the mid-infrared wavelength, allowing you to see very subtle geological differences on the sites at a 0.4-metre resolution.
We can tell from the imagery a tomb was looted from a particular period of time, and we can alert INTERPOL to watch out for antiquities from that time that may be offered for sale.