Aerial Archaeology in Ireland - The Heritage Council

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6.2 Other Provisions for Training and Mentoring
With the growth in archaeological aerial survey of road corridors, a number of archaeological contracting companies are
encouraging more staff members to assist in taking air photographs. The extent to which this can be regarded as training or
even mentoring depends on the experience of those who accompany such new or inexperienced recruits — and it is apparent
that this varies. Even though such initiatives may only occasionally involve practitioners with a long and varied track record of
experience, there must be at least some benefit in encouraging more archaeologists to have the practical experience of seeing
archaeology from the air.
In the longer run, this may prove to be the basis for further development of aerial archaeology in Ireland if there is rapid
expansion of demand for these services. But in the shorter term, there is some concern that competition for work means that
relatively inexperienced archaeologists are being used with little real training or instruction from experienced practitioners
— who might otherwise do the work themselves anyway.
Although universities and others do provide a basic introduction to aerial archaeology, these courses are mostly fairly introductory,
unless students go on to develop their interests through dissertations, placements or much more detailed mentoring. A number
of courses have enabled students and others to develop their skills in this way.
Figure 57: A pre-flight briefing at an Aerial Archaeology
Research Group/EU Culture 2000 training course in
Cirencester 2006. Three Irish archaeologists received
training in aerial survey as part of this initiative
A number of respondents suggested that there would be value in developing more training and mentoring for the development
of new talent, including practical legal and safety issues (including suitability of aircraft and airfields) as well as in issues
concerning timing, ground and weather conditions, lighting and photographic technique. More training in standards of reporting,
interpretation and presentation is also needed (Figure 57). The results of the EU Culture 2000 project — European Landscapes
Past, Present and Future — have illustrated graphically the value of close collaboration and training in aerial archaeology and
related techniques (Musson and Horne 2007).