5 minute summaries
1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from each episode
__________
24 Mar 2021
1hr 4mins
FEATURING
Owltail Summaries
1 quote, 3 ideas & 1 question from each episode
_________
Sarah Parcak on Archaeology from Space
24 Mar 2021
1hr 4mins
Quote
"Sarah says: Everyone is born an explorer. We just choose different things to explore."
Ideas
1
We often view history with our own biases of what we know today, without properly putting ourselves in their shoes.
Take the ancient Egyptians and why they built tombs and put valuable goods into it when people died.
For many of us, with our modern mindset, we can't understand why they'd want to do that.
But for the ancient Egyptians, their religion was their entire worldview. It's how they interacted with their world. The wind wasn't the wind. It was the god Shu touching them. The Nile wasn't the Nile. It was the god Hapi.
So, if we think of their religion, in some ways, as their science and how they understood the changes in the world around them, then, we can being to better understand why they did what they did and why they believed what they believed.
They believed that when they died, the things they buried with them, or the spirits within the things they buried, would accompany them to the afterlife. It wasn't just about building a tomb and putting goods in it.
For many of us, with our modern mindset, we can't understand why they'd want to do that.
But for the ancient Egyptians, their religion was their entire worldview. It's how they interacted with their world. The wind wasn't the wind. It was the god Shu touching them. The Nile wasn't the Nile. It was the god Hapi.
So, if we think of their religion, in some ways, as their science and how they understood the changes in the world around them, then, we can being to better understand why they did what they did and why they believed what they believed.
They believed that when they died, the things they buried with them, or the spirits within the things they buried, would accompany them to the afterlife. It wasn't just about building a tomb and putting goods in it.
1
We often view history with our own biases of what we know today, without properly putting ourselves in their shoes.
Take the ancient Egyptians and why they built tombs and put valuable goods into it when people died.
For many of us, with our modern mindset, we can't understand why they'd want to do that.
But for the ancient Egyptians, their religion was their entire worldview. It's how they interacted with their world. The wind wasn't the wind. It was the god Shu touching them. The Nile wasn't the Nile. It was the god Hapi.
So, if we think of their religion, in some ways, as their science and how they understood the changes in the world around them, then, we can being to better understand why they did what they did and why they believed what they believed.
They believed that when they died, the things they buried with them, or the spirits within the things they buried, would accompany them to the afterlife. It wasn't just about building a tomb and putting goods in it.
For many of us, with our modern mindset, we can't understand why they'd want to do that.
But for the ancient Egyptians, their religion was their entire worldview. It's how they interacted with their world. The wind wasn't the wind. It was the god Shu touching them. The Nile wasn't the Nile. It was the god Hapi.
So, if we think of their religion, in some ways, as their science and how they understood the changes in the world around them, then, we can being to better understand why they did what they did and why they believed what they believed.
They believed that when they died, the things they buried with them, or the spirits within the things they buried, would accompany them to the afterlife. It wasn't just about building a tomb and putting goods in it.
2
When asked about the greatest archaeological mistake?
Sarah says, that's a hard question because there have been a lot of mistakes. I don't know about the biggest mistake. I have my own personal opinion, but I don't speak on behalf of my colleagues for this one.
For her, when archaeologists go into the field, they don't pair conservation alongside excavation. In other words, they'll dig, and then whatever they've excavated, they won't protect. So a lot of these amazing discoveries from a long time ago are exposed to the elements, which often tarnishes the discover itself.
This is particularly important as our ability to interpret and understand things often depends upon the latest technology we have, so by not preserving the discoveries, we're potentially hindering our ability to further understand things as we have new technology.
For her, when archaeologists go into the field, they don't pair conservation alongside excavation. In other words, they'll dig, and then whatever they've excavated, they won't protect. So a lot of these amazing discoveries from a long time ago are exposed to the elements, which often tarnishes the discover itself.
This is particularly important as our ability to interpret and understand things often depends upon the latest technology we have, so by not preserving the discoveries, we're potentially hindering our ability to further understand things as we have new technology.
2
When asked about the greatest archaeological mistake?
Sarah says, that's a hard question because there have been a lot of mistakes. I don't know about the biggest mistake. I have my own personal opinion, but I don't speak on behalf of my colleagues for this one.
For her, when archaeologists go into the field, they don't pair conservation alongside excavation. In other words, they'll dig, and then whatever they've excavated, they won't protect. So a lot of these amazing discoveries from a long time ago are exposed to the elements, which often tarnishes the discover itself.
This is particularly important as our ability to interpret and understand things often depends upon the latest technology we have, so by not preserving the discoveries, we're potentially hindering our ability to further understand things as we have new technology.
For her, when archaeologists go into the field, they don't pair conservation alongside excavation. In other words, they'll dig, and then whatever they've excavated, they won't protect. So a lot of these amazing discoveries from a long time ago are exposed to the elements, which often tarnishes the discover itself.
This is particularly important as our ability to interpret and understand things often depends upon the latest technology we have, so by not preserving the discoveries, we're potentially hindering our ability to further understand things as we have new technology.
3
Archaeology is inherently political by its very nature, because contending and interpreting the past, impacts who we are today.
We see it the concepts of ownership everywhere in the world. Who came to a place first? Who has the right to be living in this place? Governments will use discoveries from archaeological sites to prove that "Oh, we're older. We're better." Or "This particular religious group was here first. Hence, we have a right to commit these atrocities or erase these peoples." - Particularly with the rise of nationalism.
One of the biggest issues with archaeologists is that they have to be really careful, because they're only able to work in places where governments provide permits and permissions.
And even after they've made discoveries, there's a whole nother discussion of who owns the rights to the data, as well as intellectual IP that's been made through the discoveries. And often, it's the governments who get to dictate these terms, otherwise you won't have the right to do any of your work.
One of the biggest issues with archaeologists is that they have to be really careful, because they're only able to work in places where governments provide permits and permissions.
And even after they've made discoveries, there's a whole nother discussion of who owns the rights to the data, as well as intellectual IP that's been made through the discoveries. And often, it's the governments who get to dictate these terms, otherwise you won't have the right to do any of your work.
3
Archaeology is inherently political by its very nature, because contending and interpreting the past, impacts who we are today.
We see it the concepts of ownership everywhere in the world. Who came to a place first? Who has the right to be living in this place? Governments will use discoveries from archaeological sites to prove that "Oh, we're older. We're better." Or "This particular religious group was here first. Hence, we have a right to commit these atrocities or erase these peoples." - Particularly with the rise of nationalism.
One of the biggest issues with archaeologists is that they have to be really careful, because they're only able to work in places where governments provide permits and permissions.
And even after they've made discoveries, there's a whole nother discussion of who owns the rights to the data, as well as intellectual IP that's been made through the discoveries. And often, it's the governments who get to dictate these terms, otherwise you won't have the right to do any of your work.
One of the biggest issues with archaeologists is that they have to be really careful, because they're only able to work in places where governments provide permits and permissions.
And even after they've made discoveries, there's a whole nother discussion of who owns the rights to the data, as well as intellectual IP that's been made through the discoveries. And often, it's the governments who get to dictate these terms, otherwise you won't have the right to do any of your work.
Questions
1
Can you think of something that you previously dismissed
because you didn't genuinely trying to putting yourself in the shoes of?
1
Can you think of something that you previously dismissed
because you didn't genuinely trying to putting yourself in the shoes of?
What else is in the episode
1
ow we were able to build things such as pyramids, why egyptian people were buried with valuable goods, how far Phoenicians & vikings were able to to travel and more.
1
ow we were able to build things such as pyramids, why egyptian people were buried with valuable goods, how far Phoenicians & vikings were able to to travel and more.
2
On what is a bigger thread to archaeology: Economic development or looting
2
On what is a bigger thread to archaeology: Economic development or looting
3
How Sarah become an archaeologist, the latest technologies inside of archaeology and her thoughts on what it takes to become one.
3
How Sarah become an archaeologist, the latest technologies inside of archaeology and her thoughts on what it takes to become one.
Who is Sarah Parcak?
1
Archaeologist and remote sensing expert who's work combines technology, historical study, and cultural anthropology to advance discoveries about the past while navigating the political and ethical dilemmas that plague excavation work today.
- Professor of anthropology and founding director of the Laboratory for Global Observation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
1
Archaeologist and remote sensing expert who's work combines technology, historical study, and cultural anthropology to advance discoveries about the past while navigating the political and ethical dilemmas that plague excavation work today.
- Professor of anthropology and founding director of the Laboratory for Global Observation at the University of Alabama at Birmingham
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