SOCIAL SCIENCES

Archaeology from Space: How the Future Shapes Our Past

by Sarah Parcak
Holt. Jul. 2019. 288p. photos. notes. index. ISBN 9781250198280. $30; ebk. ISBN 9781250198297. ARCHAEOL
COPY ISBN
Parcak (anthropology, Univ. of Alabama), founder of the GlobalXplorer online platform, on which her award-winning TedTalk is based, here relies on her popularization of technology-assisted archaeology to help people better comprehend past civilizations in order to better understand themselves. The author begins by paying homage to her inspirations: her forestry professor grandfather of Indiana Jones character. The personal narrative brings an immediacy to the text and includes many anecdotes, from her fan-girl reaction to meeting Harrison Ford to her yell of excitement over a data set. Parcak vividly shares the excitement of excavating at places such as Tanis, Egypt, as well as her thoughts about the numerous archaeological sites that are still undiscovered.
VERDICT An engaging read for both teens and adults interested in satellite remote sensing and other technologies as well as archaeology. They will learn some intriguing things about civilizations in the process.
Reviewed by Sara R. Tompson, Lawrence, KS , Jun 13, 2019
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