Infra-red satellite imaging of Egypt has revealed a buried city near San El Hagar with over 17 pyramids, 1,000 tombs and 3,000 other buildings. It's the ancient city of Tanis, and it's where the Ark of the Covenant is buried (provided you believe Raiders of the Lost Ark, but not past the point where Indy actually finds it, the Nazi's get all f***ed up after opening it, and it winds up in a crate in some nondescript government warehouse). Sounds legit to me!

The team analysed images from satellites orbiting 700km above the earth, equipped with cameras so powerful they can pin-point objects less than 1m in diameter on the earth's surface.

Infra-red imaging was used to highlight different materials under the surface. Ancient Egyptians built their houses and structures out of mud brick, which is much denser than the soil that surrounds it, so the shapes of houses, temples and tombs can be seen.

So like, is looting still frowned upon? Hey -- I don't even need the ark, I'd settle for a mummified cat and a jarful of organ jerky. Just a little something for my foyer to let visitors know I'm cultured. "Would you settle for a paperback copy of 'The Book of the Dead' and a cartouche necklace that reads 'Geekologie Writer'?" SOLD!

Egyptian pyramids found by infra-red satellite images [bbcnews]

and

Buried city revealed by satellite [bbcnews] (with video)

Thanks to Paul E, not to be confused with Wall E, who I'd beat to pieces with a shovel.