Five Mysteries Uncovered By Google Earth

By All That's Interesting | Edited By John Kuroski

Published December 1, 2011

Updated August 22, 2017

Villa Remains, Rome

One of the earliest incidences of Google Earth being used as an archaeological tool occurred in 2005. Ironically, the man responsible – Luca Mori – was simply using it to observe his local area. Instead, what he discovered was the location of an ancient Roman villa located near his home in Parma.

The satellite imagery revealed a dark oval shape, which Mori mistook for a technological glitch. It wasn’t until after he alerted the National Archaeological Museum, and their expedition unearthed ancient ceramic pieces, that the site was confirmed as a villa from a Roman era before Christ.

MARIO LAPORTA/AFP/Getty ImagesThe excavation site of the Dionysiac Villa near Naples, southern Italy.

author

Established in 2010, All That's Interesting brings together a dedicated staff of digital publishing veterans and subject-level experts in history, true crime, and science. From the lesser-known byways of human history to the uncharted corners of the world, we seek out stories that bring our past, present, and future to life. Privately-owned since its founding, All That's Interesting maintains a commitment to unbiased reporting while taking great care in fact-checking and research to ensure that we meet the highest standards of accuracy.

editor

John Kuroski is the editorial director of All That's Interesting. He graduated from New York University with a degree in history, earning a place in the Phi Alpha Theta honor society for history students. An editor at All That's Interesting since 2015, his areas of interest include modern history and true crime.