Satellite image of Arwad, present-day (2026-04-29) by Jack LeddyHonor Frost Foundation
Arwad, Syria
Arwad is one of very few small islands off the coast of Syria. These islands have provided unique protection from the sea, creating a safe haven for ships for millennia. In 1963, the island was still surrounded by extensive stone constructions providing insight into this history.
Honor Frost's specialty was coastal sites in the Eastern Mediterranean — often underwater. Naturally, she was drawn to Arwad. The preservation of the ancient infrastructure offered a unique opportunity to better understand the harbours of the past.
Honor Frost's Arwad (Rouad) research notes (1963/1964) by Honor FrostHonor Frost Foundation
Frost researched extensively before approaching Arwad
She read historical accounts, wrote letters to expert acquaintances, and kept track of all she learned in a series of notes and sketches now preserved in the Honor Frost Archive.
On her first site visits, Frost kept detailed notes of the features she saw, their relationships to one another, and possible interpretations. It became clear, however, that a site of this scale required a unique approach. Frost needed a way to survey the whole site comprehensively, and leave an adequate record for future archaeologists.
Aerial photo from Arwad (1963) by Honor FrostHonor Frost Foundation
Aerial photography
So, Honor Frost took to the sky. She took several aerial photos of Arwad to get a holistic impression of the site. This one shows the partially submerged defenses at the north of the island. Even in 1963, their preservation was under threat from erosion and sea level rise.
A Birds-Eye View
As useful as her photos were, what Frost really wanted was a birds-eye, accurately scaled photomosaic, such that she and future scholars could easily analyze the archaeology. Even if the site itself were threatened, this record would live on.
Letters from John Williams
Luckily, one of Frost's many correspondents was a retired surveyor named John Williams who specialised in photogrammetry; the science of extracting measurements from overlapping photographs.
Frost sent Williams her photos, and he began developing a technique for simple, by-hand photogrammetry. In this letter, he illustrates how this might work.
Reverse of aerial photo of Arwad, with grid (1965) by John WilliamsHonor Frost Foundation
In the following archival images, we can see Frost and Williams' process from start to finish: Williams used real-world measurements from Syrian cadastral maps to interpolate the sizes of features in Frost's aerial photos.
Aerial photo of Arwad, with grid (1965) by Honor Frost and John WilliamsHonor Frost Foundation
Williams could then draw accurate grids over the photos, and translate these into a perfectly scaled birds-eye view.
Gridded plan of Arwad (1969) by Honor Frost and John WilliamsHonor Frost Foundation
Finally, Frost created a drawn plan highlighting features of archaeological interest. From her plans, we can reconstruct accurate measurements and study how the site has changed through time.
Underwater applications?
Frost and Williams even corresponded about the potential of their methods for submerged sites. Photogrammetry, underwater or otherwise, is quite common among archaeologists today — but Frost was among the earliest to recognize its full potential.
Overall Arwad site map (1965/1966) by Honor Frost and John WilliamsHonor Frost Foundation
The final product
An accurate, scaled plan of Arwad's archaeology. On this carefully drawn map, Frost has outlined each block of the ancient masonry, and left detailed notes and measurements to indicate important features. A map like this can be compared even with high-tech modern 3D modeling.
Modern aerial photo at Arwad (2020) by Jafar AnbarHonor Frost Foundation
Frost's enduring legacy
Despite challenges from development, environment, and political unrest, archaeological work continues at Arwad today. This aerial photo was taken by Jafar Anbar in a recent re-survey of the island, supported by the Honor Frost Foundation
Modern 3D modeling has come a long way
Anbar used drone photography and modeling software like AutoCAD to create scale drawings and Digital Elevation Models, quickly and efficiently capturing data that Frost would have had to measure by hand. To read more about Anbar's work with the Honor Frost Foundation, click here!
Anbar cites Honor Frost as a direct inspiration on his methodology and survey ethos. Here you can see his final map with all the new survey observations (right) compared with Frost's (left). Anbar says one of his goals was to bring 'new life' to Frost's methodology by updating it for the digital age.
Honor Frost Today
It is the goal of the Honor Frost Foundation to keep Frost's legacy alive by supporting crucial, innovative work like Anbar's. Through telling her stories and furthering her scholarship, we can clearly see her influence on all Maritime Archaeology
Created by Jack Leddy for the Honor Frost Foundation.
All archival images from the Honor Frost Archive, Archives and Special Collections, University of Southampton.
Special thanks to Jafar Anbar for his time and information.
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