In search of ancient pre-Roman imperial roads: state of research and some methodological recommendations

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been a considerable growth of scientific interest in the question of travel and mobility in the ancient Mediterranean and Near East. As far as the southern Levant is concerned, this interest has yielded much research about travel and mobility in Late Antique Palestine (including the Roman imperial road network), leaving the question of pre-Roman travel and mobility a much-understudied field of study. However, recent archaeological discoveries have revolutionized our state of knowledge about material remains of pre-Roman roads, which were once believed to not have been preserved. Namely, remains of several pre-Roman roads have been discovered on the ground in modern Jordan and Israel: the Aroer Ascent, “Glueck’s Road,” Naqeb Dahal, the Wadi Zarqa-Main road, the Callirrhoe–Machaerus road, and the Masada–Hebron road. In this context, the aim of this paper was, first, to study the spatial and archaeological features of the archaeologically attested ancient pre-Roman roads, and second, to evaluate all of the available types of remote data as tools serving in the detection of artifacts (especially archival cartographic, aerial, and satellite data; archaeological data; and least-cost simulations of Geographic Information Systems [GIS]). As a result, several conclusions are suggested. First, old topographic maps are a very promising source of data for potential new discoveries since they contain both explicit and implicit hints at the existence of ancient roads. Second, information about archaeological data and the Roman imperial road network may also offer important reference points if the quality of databases is improved in the future. Third, the use of GIS simulations based on 30 m digital elevation models has very substantial limitations. In particular, the use of least cost paths and corridors for simulating short-distance travel has turned out to be fruitless. At the same time, the use of least cost corridors for predicting long-distance travel offers some promising results.

In Search of Ancient Pre-Roman Imperial Roads: A Case Study of the Application of Remote Sensing in Road Archaeology in the Southern Levant

“…All of these data types were tested as tools for detecting features using the few ancient pre-Roman Imperial roads that had been archaeologically attested in the Southern Levant. Our study led to several conclusions [12]. Most important among these is that old topographic maps (especially British and German colonial maps) represent a very promising source of data for potential discoveries since they include both implicit and explicit clues suggesting the existence of ancient roads.…”

“…Although one may sometimes find various hints scattered throughout the literature suggesting the course of ancient pre-Roman Imperial roads [2,14,29], a well-tested and established research methodology has yet to be defined in this respect. In our recent study [12], we tested the following types of remote sensing data against ancient pre-Roman roads that have already been attested: archival cartographic sources, archival aerial imagery, archival satellite imagery, high-resolution satellite imagery, the databases of archaeological sites, the datasets of Roman Imperial roads, and various GIS simulations (especially the Least Cost Paths and Corridors) based on a digital elevation model (DEM).…”

“…In this context, the GIS simulations may appear to be a useful tool in the search for ancient pre-Roman roads [42][43][44][45]. By avoiding natural barriers and excessive effort, the Least Cost Paths and Corridors simulate travel in a way that mirrors the experience of the ancient roadbuilders (especially those prior to Roman engineers), who had much less effective means of roadbuilding than modern people [12]. However, the main difficulty in their application in Near Eastern archaeology is the lack of DEMs with a resolution greater than about 30 m [46].…”

“…However, the main difficulty in their application in Near Eastern archaeology is the lack of DEMs with a resolution greater than about 30 m [46]. In the current situation, GIS simulations may only be seen as a useful tool for predicting long-distance travel on a medium or general scale of detail, not for simulating travel on a detailed scale for short distances [12].…”