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Satellite images taken during the Cold War have uncovered nearly 400 previously unknown Roman forts in Iraq and Syria, according to a study published in the academic journal Antiquity. The findings have prompted historians and archaeologists to reevaluate their understanding of Rome’s eastern frontier 1,900 years ago. Previous surveys by Antoine Poidebard, a French Jesuit priest, had identified 116 Roman forts along a 1,000 km border, leading to the belief that they served as a defense against Arab and Persian invaders. However, the new research reveals an additional 396 forts, suggesting that the region was more likely a center of global trade.

The study’s lead author, Jesse Casana, a professor of anthropology at Dartmouth College, noted that the newly discovered forts formed an east-west line connecting the Tigris River with the Mediterranean, challenging previous theories that emphasized a north-south defensive border. Casana’s team is now exploring whether these ancient structures were constructed as a wall or a road.

The satellite imagery used in the study came from declassified spy images from the CORONA and HEXAGON satellite programs. The CORONA program, active during the late 1950s, was primarily focused on gathering intelligence on Soviet strategic forces. The HEXAGON program, which operated between 1971 and 1986, captured vast amounts of photographic film, covering 877 million square miles of the Earth’s surface. The images provided valuable insights for analysts in identifying potential threats.

Casana emphasized the need to expand this type of research to other regions of the world using different types of imagery. The discovery of these previously unknown Roman forts challenges current understanding and highlights the importance of continuing archaeological investigations to uncover new insights into ancient civilizations and their interactions.

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