Archaeologists are harnessing the power of space technology to safeguard ancient ruins around the world. From using satellite imagery to map urban expansion and monitor threats, to leveraging lasers and lidar to uncover hidden sites, space archaeology is transforming the field. This article explores how scientists are blending old and new missions to protect cultural heritage sites, with a focus on case studies in Cyprus and Guatemala.
Space and Time in Collaboration: Historic Data Meets Modern Missions
Space archaeology—a mix of the old and the new From radar to lidar, scientists rely on the newest satellite technologies for tracking transformations in Earth’s crust and unwrapping secrets kept by archaeological sites. They rely on data from old mission stars, such as the Radar Topographic Mapper of the space shuttle, as well.
That includes the long-in-operation Landsat satellite series overseen by NASA and the U.S. Geological Survey. It provides archaeologists a window through time, with data going back more than 50 years, to track alterations in the way land is used that may threaten ancient structures. The archive has been particularly useful in illuminating a place such as Cyprus where urban expansion has ballooned more than 300%percent since the 1980s, threatening to swallow up much of the island’s rich archaeological past.
Mapping the Unseen: Space and Indigenous Collaboration in Well-understood Arenas
In addition to tracking surface changes, space-based technologies are uncovering hidden archaeological gems. But projects such as the San Bartolo-Xultun Regional Archaeological Project in Guatemala are also using satellite lidar to cleave through dense forest and reveal extensive Mayan sites still buried.
Space archaeology, however, is not only just about the technology – it also involves community engagement with local and indigenous groups. It engages in dialogue with the local community, largely from San Bartolo, on issues related to the archaeology and environmental science programs of research as well as art conservation. With this collaborative model, the actual voices and understanding of those who have an intimate connection to the land resonate with decision-makers as they continue research and preservation work.
Protecting the Past, Shaping the Future: Advancements in Space Archaeology
The field of space archaeology is entering exciting and daunting territory as its influence increasingly resonates beyond the narrow pertinence of archaeological research. Not only to protect ancient ruins, the technology and the strategies developed can be used more largely and help deal with some problems of social justice.
Space archaeology does something else, too: It helps to render visible the marginalization of local and indigenous communities within ancient archaeological practices – shedding light on a longtime history of bias. The San Bartolo-Xultun project and similar endeavours actively encourage educational outreach with these communities to increase awarness amongst them of their position as equals in preserving our civilisation’s common cultural heritage.
The nascent space archaeology discipline holds promise to contribute to a more global and sustainable future of its exploration. Archaeologists are now uniquely positioned to author the next chapter in how we save and honor the ancient treasures of our world, perfecting a recipe that mixes new technology with old-fashioned community involvement.
