Advanced Archaeological Remote Sensing: Site Prospection, Landscape Archaeology and Heritage Protection in the Middle East and North Africa

The Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa (EAMENA) project uses satellite imagery and remote sensing to identify and monitor threats to heritage sites across the MENA region.

On this six-week advanced course from Durham University, you’ll deepen your understanding of remote sensing technology and its uses for the protection of cultural heritage. Focusing on the Middle East and North Africa, you’ll be trained to visualise and analyse remote sensing imagery.

Learn how to source, display, and analyse satellite imagery

Accessing satellite imagery is the first step in exploring archaeological sites and landscapes.

In the first week of the course, you’ll gain a comprehensive overview of satellite imagery, learning how it can be used to gather data about features on the earth’s surface.

Get to grips with multispectral imaging and spatial analysis

Satellite remote sensing often uses multispectral imaging. In Week 3, you’ll learn how to carry out simple analyses on multispectral images, and what the value of this data is for analysing archaeology.

You’ll also examine satellite radar data, and learn about the digital elevation models that can be generated from it.

Improve your mapping skills to process archaeological data

In the final two weeks of the course, you’ll develop a toolkit for processing data sourced through satellite remote sensing. You’ll discuss the most effective ways of mapping, georeferencing, and digitising historic maps and imagery, so that data is presented clearly and accurately.

You’ll finish the course with an in-depth knowledge of the uses of satellite remote sensing for cultural heritage protection, and the technical skills you need to conduct your own archaeological analysis.