Satellite Imagery-Based Damage Assessment on Nineveh and Nebi Yunus Archaeological Site in Iraq
During the last decades, archaeological site looting throughout Iraq has increased significantly up to a point where some of the most famous and relevant ancient Mesopotamian cities are currently threatened in their integrity. Several important archaeological monuments and artifacts have been destro...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-05-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/10/1672 |
| _version_ | 1797567163478835200 |
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| author | Emanuele Angiuli Epifanio Pecharromán Pablo Vega Ezquieta Maria Gorzynska Ionut Ovejanu |
| author_facet | Emanuele Angiuli Epifanio Pecharromán Pablo Vega Ezquieta Maria Gorzynska Ionut Ovejanu |
| author_sort | Emanuele Angiuli |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the last decades, archaeological site looting throughout Iraq has increased significantly up to a point where some of the most famous and relevant ancient Mesopotamian cities are currently threatened in their integrity. Several important archaeological monuments and artifacts have been destroyed, due to ISIL attacks and associated looting. Since 2016, the policies of the European Union have been increasingly harsh to condemn these atrocious acts of destruction. In such a scenario, the European Union Satellite Centre can be an invaluable instrument for the identification and assessment of the damage in areas occupied by ISIL. A detailed view of the damage suffered by the Nineveh and Nebi Yunus ancient sites, in Iraq, was assessed via visual inspection. The analysis was conducted considering the main events that occurred in the city of Mosul, between November 2013 and March 2018. More than 25 satellite images, new acquisitions and archived, supported by collateral data, allowed the detection and classification of the damage occurred over time. A description of the methodology and the classification of category and type of damage is presented. The results of the analysis confirm the dramatic levels of destruction that these two ancient sites have been suffering since 2013. The analysis reported in this paper is part of a wider study that the SatCen conducted in cooperation with the EU Counter-Terrorism Office and PRISM Office. The whole activity aimed at confirming to EU institutions the massive looting and trafficking operated in the area. The results have been provided to archaeologists in the field as well in support of local authorities who are trying to evaluate the current situation in the area. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:37:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-7c73f3d5965f42548021a7cfe05fbeb5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T19:37:45Z |
| publishDate | 2020-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj.art-7c73f3d5965f42548021a7cfe05fbeb52023-11-20T01:30:59ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922020-05-011210167210.3390/rs12101672Satellite Imagery-Based Damage Assessment on Nineveh and Nebi Yunus Archaeological Site in IraqEmanuele Angiuli0Epifanio Pecharromán1Pablo Vega Ezquieta2Maria Gorzynska3Ionut Ovejanu4European Union Satellite Centre, Apdo. Correos 511, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, SpainEuropean Union Satellite Centre, Apdo. Correos 511, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, SpainEuropean Union Satellite Centre, Apdo. Correos 511, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, SpainEuropean Union Satellite Centre, Apdo. Correos 511, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, SpainEuropean Union Satellite Centre, Apdo. Correos 511, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, SpainDuring the last decades, archaeological site looting throughout Iraq has increased significantly up to a point where some of the most famous and relevant ancient Mesopotamian cities are currently threatened in their integrity. Several important archaeological monuments and artifacts have been destroyed, due to ISIL attacks and associated looting. Since 2016, the policies of the European Union have been increasingly harsh to condemn these atrocious acts of destruction. In such a scenario, the European Union Satellite Centre can be an invaluable instrument for the identification and assessment of the damage in areas occupied by ISIL. A detailed view of the damage suffered by the Nineveh and Nebi Yunus ancient sites, in Iraq, was assessed via visual inspection. The analysis was conducted considering the main events that occurred in the city of Mosul, between November 2013 and March 2018. More than 25 satellite images, new acquisitions and archived, supported by collateral data, allowed the detection and classification of the damage occurred over time. A description of the methodology and the classification of category and type of damage is presented. The results of the analysis confirm the dramatic levels of destruction that these two ancient sites have been suffering since 2013. The analysis reported in this paper is part of a wider study that the SatCen conducted in cooperation with the EU Counter-Terrorism Office and PRISM Office. The whole activity aimed at confirming to EU institutions the massive looting and trafficking operated in the area. The results have been provided to archaeologists in the field as well in support of local authorities who are trying to evaluate the current situation in the area.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/10/1672cultural heritagedamage assessmentlootingremote sensingvery high resolutionIraq |
| spellingShingle | Emanuele Angiuli Epifanio Pecharromán Pablo Vega Ezquieta Maria Gorzynska Ionut Ovejanu Satellite Imagery-Based Damage Assessment on Nineveh and Nebi Yunus Archaeological Site in Iraq Remote Sensing cultural heritage damage assessment looting remote sensing very high resolution Iraq |
| title | Satellite Imagery-Based Damage Assessment on Nineveh and Nebi Yunus Archaeological Site in Iraq |
| title_full | Satellite Imagery-Based Damage Assessment on Nineveh and Nebi Yunus Archaeological Site in Iraq |
| title_fullStr | Satellite Imagery-Based Damage Assessment on Nineveh and Nebi Yunus Archaeological Site in Iraq |
| title_full_unstemmed | Satellite Imagery-Based Damage Assessment on Nineveh and Nebi Yunus Archaeological Site in Iraq |
| title_short | Satellite Imagery-Based Damage Assessment on Nineveh and Nebi Yunus Archaeological Site in Iraq |
| title_sort | satellite imagery based damage assessment on nineveh and nebi yunus archaeological site in iraq |
| topic | cultural heritage damage assessment looting remote sensing very high resolution Iraq |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/12/10/1672 |
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