Aerial Archaeology in Ireland - The Heritage Council

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3.4 Conventional Photography: Different Scales and Approaches
Different scales and types of aerial imagery, together with different land uses, lighting conditions and viewpoints, all affect how
useful both historical and recent photography can be for different purposes (e.g. Figures 24, 27, 28). In this section, some of the
pros and cons of different kinds of imagery for some common uses are discussed.
Figures 27 a-d: Comparative viewpoints, land use, scales and lighting conditions in historic and recent aerial photography at Newgrange, Co. Meath
in the Boyne Valley
a: An Irish Army Air Corps view in 1924. This photograph of the area
immediately west of the main passage tomb was taken when most
of the land was improved pasture. It shows only indistinct hints of
archaeological features such as the large circular monument in the
bottom right corner by the river (Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland/
Government Stationery Office)
c: The Newgrange passage tomb undergoing conservation works in 1967.
Despite the clarity of the image, the flat lighting fails to highlight the
form of the monument and the presence of surviving standing stones
(CUCAP 15 July 1967)
b: An Ordnance Survey vertical photograph taken at altitude of 20,000
feet during the dry summer of 1995. This slightly wider view of the area,
now more intensively farmed for arable crops, includes Newgrange itself
and shows numerous cropmarks, including a much clearer impression of
the monument by the river (Ordnance Survey Ireland)
d: The Newgrange passage tomb after conservation work. This view
taken almost at right-angles to morning sunlight makes the most of the
contrasts of light and shade to reveal the form of the mound and the
surviving standing stones (Department of the Environment, Heritage and
Local Government)