Children of the Wasteland

From “Desktop Archeology” in Saudi Aramco World:

For nearly a century, archeologists have routinely used aerial photographs as a key tool for discoveries and investigations. In western Europe, the discovery through aerial reconnaissance of tens of thousands of previously unknown sites has transformed the way the past is interpreted and explained. In discussions of archeology, aerial views are often far more informative than ground photographs because the aerial views show the whole site within its geographical and environmental context, and they often show patterns too subtle or confusing to be recognizable on the ground.
Amid the patchwork of Google Earth’s satellite imagery, 15 to 20 percent of the Arabian Peninsula is covered at resolutions high enough to show archeological structures.
Above: Amid the patchwork of Google Earth’s satellite imagery, 15 to 20 percent of the Arabian Peninsula is covered at resolutions high enough to show archeological structures. Below: Google Earth’s ability to tilt the viewing angle provides oblique views like those from an aircraft. The dark lines are the remains of stone walls barely visible on the ground (bottom). Animals may have been driven into this “barbed arrow” structure; the rounded “hides” at the points may have given cover to hunters.
Animals may have been driven into this “barbed arrow” structure; the rounded “hides” at the points may have given cover to hunters.

In the Middle East as a whole, there is a growing awareness of the value of this technique, particularly given the volume and complexity of remains and the need to balance preservation with rapid industrial development. Jordan has instituted and supports a program of aerial archeology, to which I have contributed. Recently, however, archeologists have begun to use the satellite imagery publicly available since the launch

saudi rock circle

lines in saudi arabian desert