Finding the Invisible All over the planet, ancient tombs and temples lie hidden from view. So how do archaeologists know where to begin digging? Thanks to satellites, that question is becoming easier to answer. In the pioneering field of satellite archaeology, satellites four hundred miles above Earth can identify structures buried under soil, covered by modern construction, or obscured by forests. For example, mud bricks used by ancient Egyptians are more dense than soil, and the differences are detected by the satellites. Advanced computer programs map buried settlements and distinguish them from water, vegetation, and farmland. Sarah Parcak, a pioneer in the field, says of the technology, "It allows you to literally strip away vegetation and see entire cities beneath the rain forest canopy. This is the unbelievable future of archaeology."

A. Satellite archaeology is a rapid expanding new scientific field
B. Archaeologists are uncovering ancient hidden structures by using satellite imagery
C. Archaeologists must determine where ancient structures are buried before they can become excavating them.