Papers by Anthony Comfort
-, 1999
The fourth unpublished report of a survey around Zeugma using satellite imagery
-, 1998
The third annual report, not published, concerning a survey with satellite imagery around Zeugma
-, 1997
This is the second unpublished report of survey work using satellite imagery around Zeugma
-, 1996
Report of the first year of survey work around Zeugma using satellite imagery. Unpublished
-, 2002
Last report of a series concerning survey work using satellite imagery qround Zeugma. Unpublished
The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, Oct 26, 2012
ABSTRACT This thesis examines the physical evidence for ancient bridges and roads in the three mo... more ABSTRACT This thesis examines the physical evidence for ancient bridges and roads in the three most eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. Its focus is the two and a half centuries before the Arab invasions when population reached a peak. It uses satellite photographs from Google Earth to place the roads in a geographical context and contains many maps. The thesis describes twenty-four stone bridges in the provinces concerned which are thought to date from the Roman period and contains photographs of these where possible. Field research has included a large number of visits to SE Turkey and two visits to Syria. On the basis of the material evidence and the ancient sources, in particular the Peutinger Table (which are discussed in a specific chapter), the thesis examines the course of the roads and their users; it also addresses the reasons for construction of the roads, together with associated issues such as the disappearance of wheeled vehicles. The thesis describes the ancient cities, the settlement pattern and the fortifications of this region, which lay on a much troubled frontier with frequent warfare between Rome and Persia. It discusses how warfare and the construction of fortifications modified the nature of the region in the sixth century AD and then examines issues arising from the existence of the road network such as defence of the frontier, trade and the impact that commercial and social links, as well as the road network itself, had on relations between the two great empires of Late Antiquity. Annexes short reviews of archaeological work in the area and of medieval and modern travellers who have passed through it. A gazetteer of cities and fortresses mentioned in the text is attached at the end.
Anatolian studies, 2017
Although research is currently impossible on the ground, satellite photographs allow some further... more Although research is currently impossible on the ground, satellite photographs allow some further information to be gleaned concerning the region of the Tur Abdin, of crucial importance during the wars between the late Roman Empire and Sassanian Persia in the fourth to seventh century AD. This article examines the ancient sources and the reports of visitors to the area in the light of what is now visible to all via Google Earth and other suppliers of free satellite imagery. Apart from describing the remains of the fortresses and their role in defending an important redoubt against Persian attacks, it draws attention to the urgent necessity for proper ground surveys of what remains of the fortifications of various periods before these are completely destroyed by looting and reuse of building materials. Dams also present a substantial risk to some of the monuments discussed here.
Collection de l'Institut des Sciences et Techniques de l'Antiquité, 2013
Roman Bridges of South-East Anatolia. In the course of survey work associated with excavations at... more Roman Bridges of South-East Anatolia. In the course of survey work associated with excavations at Zeugma on the river Euphrates in the late 1990s and of further recent investigation of ancient bridges in south-east Anatolia (of which several were found initially by the team of Guillermo Algaze in the upper Tigris surveys of 1989/ 1990), it has been possible to locate and study 24 ancient stone bridges, for the most part ruined and originating before the medieval period. All of these are either Roman or very likely to have had Roman predecessors. They are situated in the late Roman provinces of Euphratesia, Osrhoene and (upper) Mesopotamia and all but two (those at Cyrrhus, near Kilis) are on the territory of the Republic of Turkey. Such stone bridges are important evidence for the course of ancient roads and trade-routes. They form the basis for a doctoral thesis submitted in January 2009 to the University of Exeter in south-west England. This paper will discuss the bridges with illustrations and maps in the form of a Powerpoint presentation. It will place them in the context of the frontier between Rome and Persia and of the economic situation in these wealthy and populous provinces in the course of the 250 years before the Persian and Arab invasions of the seventh century. It will then link the roads concerned to the routes shown in the late 4th century Tabula Peutingeriana and will discuss their importance for the debate on trade in the later Roman Empire.
The paper discusses roads in the eastern Roman provinces, especially in southeastern Anatolia, wi... more The paper discusses roads in the eastern Roman provinces, especially in southeastern Anatolia, with material obtained by the author during visits between 1996 and 2008. It examines the presence of milestones, paving, forts and cisterns using specific examples, which are illustrated also with satellite images.
Archaeopress eBooks, 2018
Archaeopress, 2023
The Roman frontier with Persia in north-eastern Mesopotamia investigates the Roman city of Singar... more The Roman frontier with Persia in north-eastern Mesopotamia investigates the Roman city of Singara and the fortifications and roads in the surrounding area. The physical frontier between Rome and Persia has been little studied, in part because of the difficulty of access for scholars. In comparison with other parts of the Roman ‘limes’, this frontier was of great importance because it separated the two major civilisations of the early first millennium CE. Although the frontier stretched north to Armenia and the Black Sea, north-east Mesopotamia was for long periods the major area of confrontation. After a brief review of the history of north-east Mesopotamia and its role as the setting for repeated clashes between the two empires, the book focuses on Singara, its fortifications and the surrounding frontier zone. This town was one of the strongpoints on the Roman frontier as it existed up to 363 CE. The volume then addresses the ancient road network around Singara and the links to Ni...
This thesis examines the physical evidence for ancient bridges and roads in the three most easter... more This thesis examines the physical evidence for ancient bridges and roads in the three most eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. Its focus is the two and a half centuries before the Arab invasions when population reached a peak. It uses satellite photographs from Google Earth to place the roads in a geographical context and contains many maps. The thesis describes twenty-four stone bridges in the provinces concerned which are thought to date from the Roman period and contains photographs of these where possible. Field research has included a large number of visits to SE Turkey and two visits to Syria. On the basis of the material evidence and the ancient sources, in particular the Peutinger Table (which are discussed in a specific chapter), the thesis examines the course of the roads and their users; it also addresses the reasons for construction of the roads, together with associated issues such as the disappearance of wheeled vehicles. The thesis describes the ancient cities, the...
Le Scamandre divin, le Meandre au cours sinueux, le Pactole charriant de l’or, le Xanthos tourbil... more Le Scamandre divin, le Meandre au cours sinueux, le Pactole charriant de l’or, le Xanthos tourbillonnant, le Caique au beau cours, le grand Sangarios ou l’Halys, ligne de demarcation entre la Basse et la Haute Asie… L’Asie Mineure comprend de nombreux fleuves et d’importants cours d’eau. Plusieurs d’entre eux ont interesse les auteurs anciens. Quelques-uns sont devenus ainsi celebres et sont rentres dans la memoire collective, associes a l’image de cet espace geographique. Pourtant peu de travaux existent sur les fleuves et les lacs de la peninsule anatolienne dans l’Antiquite. Plus encore, il n’existe pas d’etude d’ensemble a l’echelle de l’Asie Mineure dans ce domaine. Ce present ouvrage, divise en deux volumes, propose une premiere approche. Il est le resultat de trois journees d’etudes qui se sont tenues a l’Universite d’Artois entre 2010 et 2011. Le premier volume s’interesse a la question du fleuve comme objet d’histoire. Il prend ainsi en consideration les representations des...
Uploads
Papers by Anthony Comfort
After a brief review of the history of north-east Mesopotamia and its role as the setting for repeated clashes between the two empires, the book focuses on Singara, its fortifications and the surrounding frontier zone. This town was one of the strongpoints on the Roman frontier as it existed up to 363 CE. The volume then addresses the ancient road network around Singara and the links to Nisibis and to the Khabur valley to the west. It makes use of old aerial photographs and satellite imagery to illustrate fortifications, roads and associated sites, in particular those mentioned in the Peutinger Table. A final chapter addresses the nature of the frontier in this region.