Buzz
With the advancement of emerging technologies, 'space archaeologists' are making new and exciting discoveries regularly. While universities often rely on high-powered satellite images, some individuals have managed to locate hidden locations using tools like Google Maps and Google Earth from thousands of miles away. One of the most remarkable trends in these findings is the identification of tombs and cemeteries, where the remains of countless individuals had been lost for many years.
10. The Overlooked Jewish Cemetery in Plymouth
In 2016, Jerry Sibley took on the role of caretaker for the Hebrew congregation in Plymouth, England. He began clearing the overgrown vegetation at The Citadel on Lambhay Hill. While working on a cemetery dating back to the 1850s, he was aware from historical documents that an even older cemetery existed nearby, but its exact location remained a mystery.
To locate the hidden site, Sibley turned to Google Maps. He zoomed in and discovered an obscured graveyard. Once he identified the location, he found a concealed door in the stone wall, covered by thick vegetation. Armed with a box of hundreds of ancient keys, he was tasked with figuring out which one would unlock the door.
Upon entering, he uncovered gravestones inscribed with Hebrew. The entire area was engulfed by plant growth that had overtaken the site for centuries. With the help of a few friends, Sibley cleared the overgrowth to reveal the hidden graves.
Eager to share his remarkable find with the local community, Sibley hired a local theater group to produce a guided audio-visual tour, detailing the history of the individuals buried there. With the site now accessible, Jewish people from the region can visit their ancestors' resting places. The tour is set to run annually during the Plymouth History Festival.
9. The Bronze Age Burial Site of Suffolk
Gary Campion, 48, from Suffolk County, England, enjoys the hobby of using a metal detector to uncover hidden treasures. Over the years, he has even found ancient gold coins. One of his techniques for discovering potential treasure is to examine satellite images of his local area using Google Maps. One day, he spotted a strange circular and outlined shape that was only visible from above.
Campion immediately alerted the Suffolk County Council about his discovery. The archaeology department was thrilled to confirm that the shapes he had noticed were actually burial mounds dating back to 2300–700 BC. Typically, excavations of such sites reveal ancient precious metal artifacts, which are either auctioned off or displayed in museums.
However, this burial site is situated on private property. An archaeological dig cannot take place without the landowner's consent. Technically, any treasure unearthed on that land would belong to the property owner, who might prefer to keep the items rather than donate them to a museum for free.
8. The Concealed Egyptian Pyramids
The pyramids of Egypt are among the grandest tombs ever constructed. Each monumental structure was built to honor a deceased king or queen, and these tombs were filled with riches intended to accompany the rulers into the afterlife.
Sarah Parcak from the University of Alabama at Birmingham used NASA's satellite images to uncover Egyptian pyramids that had remained untouched by excavations. In 2011, she identified 17 new pyramids in Tanis, Egypt, and also discovered over 1,000 smaller tombs.
Parcak didn’t stop with her initial findings. Each year, she continues to uncover more hidden archaeological sites. She believes there are so many ancient ruins still hidden that we have only discovered about 10 percent of what exists.
Her latest endeavor focuses on uncovering the lost civilizations of Peru. In 2016, she launched the GlobalXplorer project, which continues to use satellite images for space archaeology. She invites anyone to join the project and attempt to identify traces of ancient Peruvian civilizations.
7. The Mass Holocaust Graves in Treblinka
During the Holocaust, Treblinka was one of the notorious death camps located in Poland. In 1943, the Nazis made an attempt to erase all evidence of its existence. They even repurposed bricks from the gas chambers to build a farmhouse on the grounds, hoping to disguise the area as nothing more than a farm.
An investigation in 1946 uncovered proof that the camp had indeed been located at that spot. As investigators began digging, they uncovered human remains. However, they could never locate the bodies that had been dumped into the mass grave used when the camp first operated.
In 2010, researchers employed modern technology to delve deeper into the site. By comparing a 1943 aerial photograph with a current satellite image from Google Earth, they were able to map what they believe to be the layout of the death camp. They also used ground-penetrating radar to search for signs of burial sites beneath the surface.
In 2014, a major archaeological excavation at the Treblinka site confirmed the positions of the mass graves and the exact locations of the gas chambers. The excavation process was documented in the film Treblinka: Hitler’s Killing Machine for the Smithsonian Channel.
6. Mongolian Burial Sites
Genghis Khan, one of history’s most fearsome rulers, sought to ensure that his resting place would remain hidden. It’s said that his tomb was filled with treasure, and he desired it to stay undisturbed for eternity. As a result, archaeologists continue to search for the tomb, driven by the allure of ancient riches.
The academic journal PLOS ONE took matters into their own hands. They collaborated with National Geographic and the University of California at San Diego, using satellite imaging technology to explore potential locations.
They then enlisted 10,000 volunteers to sift through the images, searching for anything that resembled a tomb. This extensive crowd-sourced research helped National Geographic identify 55 promising sites, which appeared to be Bronze Age burial mounds or other ancient remains.
However, the Mongolians were upset by the idea of foreign archaeologists digging up their country to exhume the remains of the past. As of now, the location of Genghis Khan's tomb remains unknown.
5. An Ancient Mayan City... Or Maybe Not?
In 2016, 15-year-old William Gadoury from Canada became captivated by Mayan culture. With an interest in astronomy, he discovered that the locations of the 117 known Mayan cities aligned perfectly with constellations. To test his hypothesis, he turned to satellite images provided by the Canadian Space Agency to search for an undiscovered city in Campeche, Mexico.
Sure enough, he found a square-shaped area, covered in vegetation, which suggested the presence of some kind of man-made structure. However, to definitively prove the existence of a hidden Mayan city, Gadoury will need to assemble a team and journey into the Mexican jungle. If the city exists, it will require months of excavation to uncover buildings, tombs, artifacts, and human remains.
When news of the boy’s discovery spread, numerous archaeologists quickly criticized Gadoury’s claim, arguing that the square indentation did not necessarily point to a lost city. National Geographic featured various skeptical theories, with most asserting that constellations and star maps are a Western invention that the Maya could not have understood.
Nevertheless, Gadoury remains undeterred by the experts' criticism. He believes they feel threatened by ideas that challenge their established views. He continues to plan an excavation of the site with support from recognized archaeological teams, and he has already arranged to publish his findings in a scholarly journal.
4. Tombs in Saudi Arabia
In 2011, archaeological researcher David Kennedy from the University of Western Australia used satellite images from Google Earth to locate over 2,000 tombs near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. These tombs were hidden in a dried lava field, which had previously kept them from being discovered.
Kennedy has spent years attempting to study Saudi Arabia, flying small aircraft in search of potential archaeological sites. However, satellite imagery has now streamlined the process, allowing much of the research to be conducted from the comfort of his own home.
Despite Saudi Arabia's ancient civilization, there has been limited archaeological exploration in the region. The Saudi government is not eager for prehistoric evidence to be uncovered.
According to the Quran, the Earth is only a few thousand years old. The discovery of ancient civilizations that existed before this timeline would challenge religious beliefs. While satellite images are useful, they cannot replace the need for physical excavation to find the truth.
3. The Colootolla Jewish Cemetery
In Calcutta, numerous old cemeteries have either vanished or are hidden in unexpected spots. Deepanjan Ghosh, a writer for Quartz India, took it upon himself to locate some of these hidden burial sites.
While researching historic archives, he came across a map of Calcutta from the 1800s that indicated various burial sites. Ghosh then used Google Maps to align the modern-day streets and buildings with the map’s coordinates. Armed with this information, he visited the locations and photographed them for his article.
Among his findings, Ghosh discovered records of a large Jewish cemetery located on what was once Colootolla Street in 1847, now known as Maulana Shaukat Ali Street. Upon visiting, he found the site occupied by a massive commercial building.
When Ghosh inquired with long-time residents about the fate of the Jewish cemetery, they explained that the land had been sold, the bodies moved, and a building erected in its place. The area is even referred to as 'Kabristan Bazar,' which translates to 'Cemetery Market.'
Ghosh reached out to the Jewish Board of Calcutta to ask their thoughts on the destruction of one of their burial sites. The response was that they were unaware of the existence of the site in question.
2. The Hidden Graves of Bosnia
In Bosnia, the International Commission on Missing Persons worked tirelessly to locate the remains of individuals killed during the Bosnia-Herzegovina war in the 1990s. During this conflict, many people disappeared, and their bodies were scattered across the country without any grave markers.
Finding these individuals and returning their remains to their families for proper burials became a nearly impossible task. The organization tried to excavate areas where they believed bodies could be located, but their assumptions were often incorrect.
The breakthrough in locating the bodies came from forensic anthropologist Amy Mundorff, known for her work identifying victims from the 9/11 terrorist attacks. She has conducted studies on how plants react to the soil around buried bodies and contributed to the development of light detection and ranging technology (LIDAR).
A small aircraft equipped with LIDAR technology collects data on the temperature of the area. This temperature data is then combined with high-resolution satellite imagery to gain a detailed understanding of the terrain.
Through this innovative approach, Mundorff aims to uncover the locations of victims in Bosnia as well as those of violent crimes. If bodies can be identified and located more swiftly through this satellite/LIDAR technology, it could lead to the faster apprehension of criminals.
1. The Hidden Tombs of the Dahshur Necropolis
In Egypt, satellite imagery is assisting archaeologists in uncovering more than just the tombs of royalty. In 2016, Dr. Sarah Parcak used satellites to discover the tomb of an individual referred to as the 'royal stamp bearer' in El-Lisht, Egypt.
Parcak and Mohamed Youssef, the director of antiquities at the Dahshur necropolis, discovered a grave marker—a sizable stone slab. The stone was etched with depictions of the royal stamp bearer’s professional and personal life, capturing his story for generations to come.
This discovery is significant as it offers a deeper understanding of the careers and daily lives of individuals from the Middle Kingdom (2000–1700 BC). It demonstrates that even ordinary people were celebrated and remembered for their contributions. Using satellite images, Parcak is mapping entire ancient cities. Soon, modern society will have a much clearer picture of ancient Egyptian life.
