diff --git a/code/CMakeModules/FindExternal.cmake b/code/CMakeModules/FindExternal.cmake
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..11489287d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/code/CMakeModules/FindExternal.cmake
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+# Look for a directory containing external libraries.
+#
+# The following values are defined
+# EXTERNAL_INCLUDE_PATH - where to find external includes
+# EXTERNAL_LIBRARY_PATH - where to find external libraries
+# EXTERNAL_FOUND        - True if the external libraries are available
+
+# also defined, but not for general use are
+IF(EXTERNAL_PATH)
+  # in cache already
+  SET(EXTERNAL_FIND_QUIETLY TRUE)
+ENDIF(EXTERNAL_PATH)
+
+FIND_PATH(EXTERNAL_PATH
+  include/png.h
+  PATHS
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/3rdParty
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../3rdParty
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/external
+  ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/../external
+)
+
+IF(EXTERNAL_PATH)
+  SET(EXTERNAL_FOUND TRUE)
+  SET(EXTERNAL_INCLUDE_PATH "${EXTERNAL_PATH}/include")
+
+  # Using 32 or 64 bits libraries
+  IF(CMAKE_SIZEOF_VOID_P EQUAL 8)
+    SET(EXTERNAL_LIBRARY_PATH "${EXTERNAL_PATH}/lib64")
+  ELSE(CMAKE_SIZEOF_VOID_P EQUAL 8)
+    SET(EXTERNAL_LIBRARY_PATH "${EXTERNAL_PATH}/lib")
+  ENDIF(CMAKE_SIZEOF_VOID_P EQUAL 8)
+
+  SET(CMAKE_INCLUDE_PATH "${EXTERNAL_INCLUDE_PATH};${CMAKE_INCLUDE_PATH}")
+  # Stupid hack for FindOpenAL.cmake
+  SET(CMAKE_INCLUDE_PATH "${EXTERNAL_PATH};${CMAKE_INCLUDE_PATH}")
+  SET(CMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH "${EXTERNAL_LIBRARY_PATH};${CMAKE_LIBRARY_PATH}")
+ENDIF(EXTERNAL_PATH)
+
+IF(EXTERNAL_FOUND)
+  IF(NOT EXTERNAL_FIND_QUIETLY)
+    MESSAGE(STATUS "Found external: ${EXTERNAL_PATH}")
+  ENDIF(NOT EXTERNAL_FIND_QUIETLY)
+ELSE(EXTERNAL_FOUND)
+  IF(NOT EXTERNAL_FIND_QUIETLY)
+    MESSAGE(STATUS "Warning: Unable to find external!")
+  ENDIF(NOT EXTERNAL_FIND_QUIETLY)
+ENDIF(EXTERNAL_FOUND)