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Archaeologists examining aerial photographs from the 1960s and 70s have uncovered 396 previously unknown Roman forts in the Syrian and Iraqi regions. These forts were discovered inadvertently from declassified Cold War spy satellite images. The findings, published in Antiquity, have prompted a re-evaluation of life on the Roman frontier.

Previously, historians believed that the string of 116 forts documented in 1934 were defensive structures safeguarding the eastern province of the Roman Empire. However, the discovery of a large number of additional forts challenges this notion. The newly uncovered evidence suggests that these forts actually served as facilitators of safe passage for caravans and travelers along routes that experienced significant nonmilitary traffic.

Instead of being hostile barriers designed solely for defense, these forts were likely outposts and havens that fostered cooperation and security. This reinterpretation highlights the Roman Empire’s emphasis on trade, communication, and interaction with regions outside their direct control.

The newly discovered sites, concealed by modern development, are distributed broadly from east to west, countering the belief that these forts constituted a north-south border wall. Researchers now hypothesize that these forts were constructed to facilitate cross-border trade and promote communication between the eastern provinces and non-Roman territories.

The high-resolution images used in the study were captured during flyovers conducted by two US military programs: the Corona Project and Hexagon. These images, declassified in 1995 and 2011 respectively, have provided archaeologists with valuable snapshots of landscapes that have undergone rapid disruption and transformation.

While 38 of the previously documented forts have been confidently identified, many of the newly discovered forts have already been destroyed due to urban or agricultural development. Countless others are also under threat. However, the analysis of future spy data and imagery holds enormous potential for further historical revelations.

Overall, this research sheds new light on the Roman Empire’s presence and activities in Syria and Iraq during ancient times.

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