Hermione Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------

> Well: I guess her position is that this is a wider
> application following on from her original concern
> about looting sites in Egypt itself -

True.

The looting in Egypt, however, was far from being discovered by Sarah Parcak. If Egypt was her concern, I was and am surprised that it wasn't her focus. I mean, why Peru ? Egypt's circumstance is far more dire. I'd seen the looting too ... in Google Earth. It is very extensive - _very_.


> > Being her home website, funny what's missing:
> Not
> > a single peep about 17 new Egyptian pyramids
> !
>
> Well, one page does say:Quote:"So far, Dr.
> Parcak’s techniques have helped locate 17
> potential pyramids" (... but doesn't give any
> further information about them that would validate
> this claim).

My point, yes ...


> Then that page goes on to say:Quote:she's also
> made significant discoveries in the Viking
> world. But it hasn't been updated to take account of {your link dropped in the post quoting}


... her 'discovery' being a bust? It is concerning when an archaeologist gets something wrong, she doesn't own up to it. Bit of a red flag for me, personally.



> > Further, the finding
> > she claimed that ended up winning her the TED
> Talk
> > prize in 2011 was already something I saw
> and
> > tagged back in 2004. She didn't' discover'
> > anything. It is south of the main Tanis
> > excavations at San El Hagar:
> >
> > 30°58'09.08" N 31°53'08.42" E
> >
> > Best viewed in GE on your computer, not the
> online
> > version. Cycle back the 'historical imagery'
> to
> > about June of 2004.
> >
> > I was mapping out the nomes for a *.kml file
> > creation and was looking at the main
> structure
> > excavation at the north end of the site. My
> eye
> > caught the rectangle in the south (about
> 80x200
> > feet), and from there while zooming made out
> the
> > other plethora of small square shapes
> littering
> > the area. I didn't need enhanced,
> > special-light-spectrum images from NASA.
> Those
> > types of images were requested later by
> Parcak
> > with the help of Alabama U, and used as
> crutches
> > to win the TEDx.
>
> It's rather vexing, to say the least, when this
> sort of thing happens ...


And there is absolutely nothing I can do about it.


> > Btw, these types of Tel's are all over the
> delta.
> > I have at least 10 I cannot reconcile with
> any
> > literature.
>
> Are you able to do anything with this particular
> material now?


Oh, probably. The area and these points faded away as my focus is elsewhere.

And here is where I and Sarah Parcak differ (and with other self-proclaimed 'Space Archaeologists'):

First, I don't rush to put them out there for the very reason noted earlier: Looting. But then the dilemma factor kicks in since I may be sitting back already knowing but someone else claims a discovery. What to do?

Second, I admit my errors. There was at least one instance on the board where I was totally wrong about an 'odd' pattern - it turned out to be old military. There was another in the delta, and I reached out to Greg R. on social media, but it ended up something else. These are fantastic learning curves ! I actually like being wrong as much as right !!

Third, I prefer to follow rules of archaeology by checking with authorities - even though I am not obligated to as an 'amateur'. My blurb last year about what I found in Sudan started with immediate correspondence to the top authorities. I also respected the dig season and their other responsibilities -- took quite a while to get the info out.

I'll end my own horn-tooting and return to the thread topic.

While I commend Sarah Parcak on other work, the handling of the '17 pyramids' and other items I feel are concerning for the field of archaeology. To be clear, though, I am disturbed by her methods, not her personally.


Avry