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Scientists have uncovered the locations of 396 Roman forts in Iraq and Syria, which were previously unknown. These findings were derived from declassified images taken by Cold War-era spy satellites. These forts are believed to have been built during the second and third century AD, forming the eastern frontier of the Roman Empire.

The discovery of forts in this area was first made by Father Antoine Poidebard, a French Jesuit priest, in the 1920s. Poidebard conducted one of the first aerial archaeology surveys and recorded a linear set of 116 forts that he believed formed a defensive line protecting the eastern provinces from Arab and Persian invasions.

However, the recent study conducted by archaeologist Professor Jesse Casana and his colleagues from Dartmouth College suggests a different purpose for these forts. They propose that these forts were designed to facilitate trade and communication with neighboring regions, rather than solely for defense.

To verify the accuracy of Poidebard’s survey, the researchers utilized spy satellite imagery from the 1960s and 1970s. They specifically focused on the Syrian Steppe and were able to identify 38 extant forts out of the 116 reported by Poidebard. Using these identified forts as references, they discovered an additional 396 forts spread across the region from east to west.

This new revelation challenges the notion that the forts formed a north-south defensive border. Instead, the researchers suggest that the forts functioned to support interregional trade and protect caravans traveling between the Roman provinces and non-Roman territories.

The study highlights the value of satellite imagery in recording archaeological features before they are lost to development. As more surveillance recordings become available, new archaeological discoveries can be made.

The findings of the study were published in the journal Antiquity and demonstrate the potential for future discoveries in the Near East and beyond through the analysis of declassified data.

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