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Books : reviews

Sarah H. Parcak.
Satellite Remote Sensing for Archaeology.
Routledge. 2009

This handbook is the first comprehensive overview of the field of satellite remote sensing for archaeology and how it can be applied to ongoing archaeological fieldwork projects across the globe. It provides a survey of the history and development of the field, connecting satellite remote sensing in archaeology to broader developments in remote sensing, archaeological method and theory, cultural resource management, and environmental studies. With a focus on practical use of satellite remote sensing, Sarah H. Parcak evaluates satellite imagery types and remote sensing analysis techniques specific to the discovery, preservation, and management of archaeological sites.

Case studies from Asia, Central America, and the Middle East are explored, including Xi’an, China, Angkor Wat, Cambodia, and Egypt’s floodplains. In-field surveying techniques particular to satellite remote sensing are emphasized, providing strategies for recording ancient features on the ground observed from space. The book also discusses broader issues relating to archaeological remote sensing ethics, looting prevention, and archaeological site preservation. New sensing research is included and illustrated with the inclusion of over 160 satellite images of ancient sites.

With a companion website with further resources and color images, Satellite Remote Sensing for Archaeology will provide anyone interested in scientific applications and uncovering past archaeological landscapes, a foundation for future research and study.

Sarah H. Parcak.
Archaeology from Space: how the future shapes our past.
Henry Hold and Co. 2019

National Geographic Explorer and TED Prize winner Dr. Sarah Parcak welcomes you to the exciting new world of space archaeology, a growing field of remote-sensing technology that is sparking extraordinary discoveries from ancient civillzations across the globe. 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’s stories take readers back in time and across borders, into the day-to-day lives of ancient humans who displayed grit, ingenuity, and brilliance across the millennia. Parcak’s passion for unearthing the secrets of our ancestors is contagious, and she shows readers the incredible technology we now have to help us understand and protect these traces of humanity, which have much to teach us. And if we heed the lessons of the past, we can shape a vibrant future.