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A recent study published in the journal Antiquity has identified 396 previously undiscovered Roman forts in Iraq and Syria, changing the understanding of the region during the Roman era. The study analyzed declassified satellite images from the 1960s and 1970s, revealing more sites than the previous aerial survey conducted in 1934 by French explorer Antoine Poidebard. The newly identified forts are arranged along strategic routes running east to west, suggesting a road network that supported caravan-based trade, communication, and military purposes.

The lead researcher, Prof. Jesse Casana, noted that the findings challenge the previous belief that the forts formed a defensive line against incursions from Arabia and Persia. The images, part of a spy satellite program during the Cold War, provide a valuable perspective on the landscape, which has been significantly altered by modern land-use changes. Casana emphasized the importance of using satellite imagery for archaeological work to prevent the loss of prospective sites.

Although the study was able to identify only 38 of the 116 forts recorded by Poidebard, Casana remains hopeful that as more previously hidden data and images are declassified, further progress can be made in identifying sites. The urban and agricultural development in the region has already destroyed many of the likely Roman forts discovered in this study, and countless others are at risk.

The declassified satellite images shed new light on the Roman presence in Iraq and Syria, revealing a more complex and interconnected network of settlements and infrastructure than previously understood. The research highlights the potential of satellite imagery for future archaeological discoveries in the near east and beyond.

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