Apamea di Siria. Distruzioni e saccheggi documentati da immagini satellitari. 2011-2019

This paper aims at a thorough re-analysis of Google Earth VHR satellite images attesting the progressive destruction by illicit excavation activities of the Hellenistic, Roman and Early Byzantine city of Apamea in Syria. The city was excavated from 1930 until 2010 by a Belgian team that exposed many public monuments and private quarters. Unfortunately, in the span of time between 2011 and 2019, due to the uncertain political situation and the lack of control on the territory, the urban area of Apamea was systematically pillaged by organised groups of illegal excavators, working also with machines and investigating manifold times the same areas. The result of such activities is a sort of lunar landscape, with holes and tunnels, clearly visible on satellite images. This caused an irreparable damage to ancient buildings and to stratigraphy, thus affecting future investigations, and the loss of numerous archaeological artefacts that were illegally traded abroad.