Spying on the Ancient World:Spying on the Ancient World:Archaeological Applications of Declassified US Intelligence Archaeological Applications of Declassified US Intelligence

Satellite Photography in the Near EastSatellite Photography in the Near East

Jason UrDepartment of AnthropologyHarvard University

Center for Geographic Analysis Remote Sensing WorkshopHarvard University, 16 February 2007

The CORONA Program 1959-1972

CORONA Mission 1017Launched 25 Feb 1965

CORONA 1039, 11 February 1968

Southern Iraq

CORONA on the USGS EarthExplorer Websitehttp://earthexplorer.usgs.gov

LANDSAT (30m) ASTER (15m) SPOT (10m) CORONA (2m)

Resolution Comparison among four data sources (Tell Beydar, NE Syria)

Tell Brak and its Landscape

CORONA 1102 (Dec 1967) QuickBird (Summer 2004)

Upper Khabur Basin

NorthernAssyria

Mughan Steppe

Hollow Ways at Hamoukar

Capitals of the Neo-Assyrian

Empire

Sennacherib (704-681 BC)

Assyrian Canals above Nineveh

Bandwai Canal

Uskof Canal

Kisiri Canal

Nineveh

Khorsabad

Dam at al-Shallalat

Faida Canal

Wad

i Mila

hKhosr River

Maltai Canal

Cross-WatershedEarthwork

Cross-WatershedEarthwork

Aras (Araxes) R

iver

The Mughan SteppeNW Iran

Ultan Qalasi

Sasanian Fortified Settlements (ca. 300-600 AD)

Qishlaq Qaravol

Sasanian Fortified Settlements (ca. 300-600 AD)

Sasanian Irrigation Networks (ca. 300-600 AD)

Pastoral Nomads of the Shahsevan ConfederacyMughan

Savalan Highlands

Upland Campsites: Site 40

Site 40

Distribution of Shahsevan Campsites

(ca. 1700-1965 AD)