Aerial archaeology in the Middle East: The role of the military past, present... and future?

From 1918 until 1939 the Middle East was one of two areas of pioneering work in Aerial Archaeology. The indispensable factor was the support of the air forces in the region. After 1939 there was very little Aerial Archaeology for some 40 years. A major change occurred in the 1970s and 80s when the enlightened attitude of Jordan led to easier access to existing air photographs in their archives. With the support of the Royal Family this evolved in 1997 into a programme of new flying for archaeology supported by the Royal Jordanian Air Force. The potential exists for these developments to spread to other Middle East countries where allowing access to old archival material should not be controversial. In view of the rapid pace of change throughout the Middle East this immensely powerful tool for prospection and understanding needs to be applied with great urgency. The failure to use the technique seriously limits what archaeologists can achieve. For example, Turkey has an incomparably rich archaeological heritage and probably the best conditions for Aerial Archaeology anywhere in the region. But it has been more firmly closed to Aerial Archaeology than any of its neighbours. In the longer term an irreplaceable cultural and economic resource is lost. In most cases restrictions on access to air photographs and to new flying are outdated; indeed they are outflanked by the increasing availability of high resolution satellite imagery.