Tracking the Roadways Across Iranian Lands: A Geospatial Reconstruction of the Persian Royal Road(s) and the cross-cultural link between East and West during the Achaemenid Era (6th-4th century BCE)

PersianTRAIL is a research project using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Remote Sensing (RS), and historical-archaeological data to reconstruct the Persian Royal Road (PRR), a key infrastructure of the Achaemenid Empire (6th–4th century BCE). The project examines factors like topography, resource distribution, economy, military logistics, and environmental constraints to understand the empire’s strategic planning.

By applying spatial modelling and remote sensing, the PersianTRAIL pinpoints road segments, corridors, settlements, and logistical hubs, refining historical interpretations and advancing digital archaeology. Its findings will offer new insights into imperial mobility, connectivity, and governance, setting a precedent for future studies on ancient mobility and empire.