Egyptian pyramids found by infra-red satellite images

**Maggy J** · 25-05-2011, 11:31

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-13522957

Quote:

Seventeen lost pyramids are among the buildings identified in a new satellite survey of Egypt.
More than 1,000 tombs and 3,000 ancient settlements were also revealed by looking at infra-red images which show up underground buildings.
Initial excavations have already confirmed some of the findings, including two suspected pyramids.

I wonder whether they have already been raided or if there are more untouched tombs..

joglynne · 25-05-2011, 13:53

Oh I do so hope that these tombs are intact. I have been reading bits and pieces about this discovery with great interest and look forward to seeing the BBC 1 documentary next Monday night. No doubt it will take years to explore all 19 pyramids that have been identified.

Welshchris · 26-05-2011, 19:36

i wonder if they are gonna get to the point of it all :-x

Scary · 26-05-2011, 19:47

there are big pluses and minuses to this, as i have a degree in Egyptian archeology i am so happy about this, the problem is if the tombs are untouched and i am hopeing they are, the Egyptian antiquities department do not have the resources or the ability to conserve the artifacts, they will choose the best for display purposes and the rest will rot in the back of the Cairo museum.

Welshchris · 26-05-2011, 20:10

Scary what did u think of the Go Compare Egyptian advert realistic or what? ;-)

craigj2k12 · 30-05-2011, 13:03

those infra-red images show me nothing. call me stupid but that looks like a blue desert and i cannot see any pyramid at all

**Maggy J** · 30-05-2011, 13:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigj2k11

those infra-red images show me nothing. call me stupid but that looks like a blue desert and i cannot see any pyramid at all

Don't tempt me..

Dave9946 · 30-05-2011, 14:01

Is this the same sort of technology that shows noahs ark to be on top of a mountain in the middle east just because the scan shows it to to a boat outline it has to be a boat burried on top of the mountain? lol.

But seriously I hope there is some great finds and fingers crossed some untouched tombs and treasures. But if there is as much artifacts found as there seems possable just where will it all be stored and displayed?.

Welshchris · 30-05-2011, 14:06

its only a matter of time before we find such great finds as the face of Jesus or the image of the Holy Mary there to.

Scary · 30-05-2011, 14:17

they cant store it only 2% of what was found in Tutankhamen's tomb was ever put on display quite allot of it has rotted away in the back of the Cairo museum. the head of antiquities in Egypt Dr Zahi Hawass is a running joke by most scholars within the archeological circles he shouts about wanting everything returned to Egypt like the Rosetta stone but they don't know how to preserve them or have the money to do it

craigj2k12 · 02-06-2011, 11:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Don't tempt me..

i have said some stupid things on this forum but was a load of rubbish those pictures are. do you need 3d glasses or something??

Scary · 02-06-2011, 13:19

how do you need 3d glases to see the buildings in that pic

**Kymmy** · 02-06-2011, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by craigj2k11

i have said some stupid things on this forum but was a load of rubbish those pictures are. do you need 3d glasses or something??

Glad you're not an archaeologist then as we'd still be looking for the great wall of china!!!

You have to compare the pictures to what you can see in the visible light range.. Looking at the picture of Tanis in the above post just shows you the capabilities of the IR pics with buildings being shown instead of a blank landscape in the visible range..

I really do look forward to this being used (if possible with our landscape) on places in the UK.. There's a field near us which was an airfield dating back to the 1930's and used as an ATA training field in WW2.. I'd love them to scan that field for the local history group.

Well done Dr Parcak for applying this phenomena to archaeology

Scary · 02-06-2011, 15:11

Kymmy this technology does look amazing and that IR only penetrates upto 1 mertre down and picked up over 2000 new potential sites over 5 undiscoverd pyramids, i cant wait untill she perfects it , imagine if she could get it to penentrate 10 metres down what they would find in egypt then.

**Kymmy** · 02-06-2011, 15:26

I know she's an Egyptologist but I'd rather see the wider picture here.. It doesn't even need to be satellite imagery but could be in essence aerial photography or even hand held cameras.. Just think of the other applications in detecting mines in areas torn previously by war.. could it detect water in areas affected by drought.. could it find drug smuggling tunnels for example on the Mexican/American border?