Maine native helped discover hidden Petra monument
A Maine native was among the researchers who discovered a new monument that had long been hidden in the ancient Middle Eastern city of Petra, The Boston Globe reports.
Sarah Parcak of Bangor, Maine poses in front of the famous temples in Petra. Parcak was one of the researchers who discovered a new monument in the city.
More than three years ago, Sarah Parcak, a researcher at the University of Alabama from Bangor, Maine, and her colleagues began looking at satellite images of the city, which is a World Heritage Site between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea in Jordan.
The researchers found the previously undiscovered monument after Parcak spotted an unusual outline sticking out of the ground in satellite images of the area south of the city. Using a drone to take high-resolution photos of the site, the group found the monument, which is made up of two platforms, columns bordering a stairway, and a small building on top of the platform.
“Even at very large and well-known world heritage sites, we’ve taken a lot for granted in terms of what’s there,” Parcek told the Globe. “It’s important to use these new technologies to really allow us to look at them with a fresh pair of eyes.”
Read the full Globe report here.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com