Fortifications

Fortifications are structures typically built for defence – but often secondarily as highly visual expressions of power. Examples of fortifications include castles, forts (or fortresses), and defensive walls and ditches. They are often large features and so are preserved in the landscape.

For more than 5000 years, defences have been built to protect communities and their resources against theft, attack, and warfare. We have seen examples of settlements with defensive walls around them. There are also examples of fortified buildings such as military garrisons, or castles and fortresses.

Below are two examples of fortified sites seen in satellite imagery.

_{Figure 1: Qahira Castle, Yemen on Google Earth. Image © 2014 Maxar Technologies}

_{Figure 2: Khan al Musalla, Iraq on Google Earth. Image © 2021 Maxar Technologies}

What features stand out most clearly? How do fortified sites look different from unfortified sites? And what features do you think we should look for to help identify them with remote sensing? Tell us what you think in the Comments!