From Above and on the Ground: Geospatial Methods for Recording Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa

The EAMENA project demonstrates that geospatial methods, combining satellite imagery from 1960s to 2017 with published data and field surveys, can effectively document and analyze threats to archaeological sites across the Middle East and North Africa. Using Cyrene as a case study, the research highlights how modern urban expansion impacts World Heritage Sites, while also showcasing the methodology's scalability through extensive land-use mapping of Homs Cairns. The approach, which integrates image interpretation and fieldwork, proves more effective than crowd-sourcing or automation alone for assessing disturbances in diverse regions.

Rayne, L., Bradbury, J., Mattingly, D., Philip, G., Bewley, R., & Wilson, A. (2017). From Above and on the Ground: Geospatial Methods for Recording Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa. Geosciences, 7(4), 100. https://doi.org/10.3390/geosciences7040100