Sarah Parcak wins $1 million TED prize to unlock secrets of ancient civilizations

An archaeologist who detects civilizations lost to the sands of time is the winner of the $1 million TED Prize for 2016.

Sarah Parcak, an associate professor at the University of Alabama, has spent the last several years using satellites, initially designed for use by the military, to identify potential sub-surface remains.

Think Indiana Jones with 21st century tech and you'll get the idea. But while her work sounds exciting, her groundbreaking work using satellite imagery has never been more important.

Sarah Parcak, Egyptologist and anthropology professor

Parcak has spent the last several years working in the Middle East to not only uncover lost sites but also help monitor areas from looting and destruction. And this is how she hopes to use her prize money.

"The last four and half years have been horrific for archaeology. I've spent a lot of time, as have many of my colleagues, looking at the destruction. I am committed to using this Prize to engage the world in finding and protecting these global sites," says Parcak in a statement released by TED.

What is a space archaeologist?

"When people initially think of the term 'space archaeologist' they think 'oh it's someone who uses satellites to look for alien settlements on Mars or in outer space' but the opposite is true -- we're actually looking for evidence of past human life on planet earth," she says.