# Detecting Change at Archaeological Sites in North Africa Using Open-Source Satellite Imagery
## 5 Conclusions  
Damage to archaeology in North Africa from land-use activities, especially agricultural and urban expansion, is already demonstrated by our earlier research [1; 20]. Countless instances of damage have been highlighted by recent publications [12; 16; 32], but no effective mitigation has yet resulted from this body of research. AKAP and EAMENA are amongst the only projects focused on detecting damage to sites of all types, not just the well-known monuments. Additionally, we combine remote sensing and ground validation to monitor sites that are not in themselves visible in imagery, such as the many lithic scatters in the Aswan area. Our methodology described in the present paper combines a large dataset with an open-source, automated workflow that avoids restrictions caused by commercial imagery and software licenses. Most importantly, the expertise and dedication of our extensive network of partners in the MENA region are allowing monitoring work to be applied. Although future enhancement is necessary to improve accuracy, this initial version of our change detection workflow highlights issues which are specific to each of the case study regions. In the Aswan area, the planned construction of the new town is increasingly responsible for the loss of many archaeological sites and will continue to threaten the remaining ones. In response to this, the AKAP project is currently working with local antiquities authorities and stakeholders to establish mitigation options, including preservation and display of the major sites located along the New Aswan riverbank, such as the Coptic monastery (SM12) previously discussed. Localised construction and extractive work, such as the modern cemetery at WT01, quarrying at WT07 and the buildings at NT01-03 is potentially even more damaging, because it is not part of a long-term plan, and therefore, is unpredictable. In this case, the antiquities' inspector working with AKAP in 2020, Ms [PERSON], was able to speak to some of the perpetrators and we were able to carry out emergency recording at these sites. We were able to react quickly to this, due to the change detection workflow. Although the agricultural expansion was not a significant cause of damage to sites in Aswan in recent years, it has been the principal cause of damage to archaeological sites in Jufra. A new field typically involves three steps that result in the systematic destruction of any archaeological remains: Construction of an enclosing embankment c.10 m across, levelling (destroying any remaining surface remains), and digging of holes for planting date palms (destroying any remaining subsurface archaeology). This modern agriculture is made possible by the digging of very deep wells so it can be used in previously barren areas and in areas that have long ago been abandoned due to changing hydrology. These are exactly the places where we find ancient water management systems that are of the earliest date, and it is these sites that have been disproportionally affected by modern agricultural intensification. The change detection algorithm identified issues in Jufra such as levelling of fields and the laying out of pits for tree planting. Many fields had already been levelled, however, prior to the analysis period. Small changes, such as tree cutting were also picked up. Although minor now, this kind of change can be indicative of the early stages of more damaging land-use activities, such as bulldozing and pit-digging, so it is important to monitor it. The potential damage caused by runoff water was another issue identified by the change detection algorithm. This was exacerbated by modern structures blocking the flow. It had not occurred to us previously to focus on this as a cause of damage in the Jufra area. Sites in both study areas had already been damaged prior to the analysis period. For example, in Jufra, most of post-medieval Waddan and an area of foggaras to the south of Hun had been destroyed by the 1970s.