Image Credit: Davidbena, CC BY-SA 4.0

Digital Atlas Redefines Ancient Roman Roads

A new digital atlas has revealed that the Roman road network extended nearly 50% farther than previously thought—covering about 186,000 miles (300,000 km) across the empire, from Spain to Syria.
The study, published in Scientific Data, updates a 25-year-old map using satellite imagery, aerial photos, and WWII archives. Over five years, archaeologists traced subtle landscape clues—like soil changes and ancient engineering marks—to uncover forgotten routes.
“This was like connecting dots across a continent,” said Tom Brughmans of Aarhus University, the study’s co-author. The map now includes secondary roads linking villas, farms, and trade centers, not just the main imperial highways.
The findings expand understanding of Roman infrastructure, especially in North Africa, France, and Greece. According to Adam Pažout of the Autonomous University of Barcelona, the road system shaped trade, religion, and even the spread of diseases across ancient Europe.
Roman road-building skills—bridges, tunnels, and drainage systems—still influence modern transport routes around the Mediterranean today.

Published on: 07-11-2025

Source: The Independent