Aerial Archaeology in Ireland - The Heritage Council

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Almost all use of aerial archaeological survey for research purposes is combined with other techniques. Swan (1985) combined aerial archaeology with map interpretation and fieldwork to analyse the form of early ecclesiastical centres. Herity (1983) and Waddell (1983) both combined aerial survey with documentary evidence and field survey to explore the Rathcrogan complex. Working in the context of pipeline development, Gowen (1988) integrated aerial reconnaissance with desk studies, field survey and excavation to cast new light on prehistoric settlement. The Discovery Programme has undertaken several projects with the specific aim of integrating a variety of archaeological techniques, including aerial archaeology (Doody 1993c, 1995, 1996; Grogan 1993, 1996; Grogan et al. 1995; Newman 1997) and their recent work on medieval rural settlement in North Roscommon. This has also been a hallmark of the Carrowmore Project (Burenhult 1980; Burenhult et al. 1984; Bergh 1995). Ground inspection of sites has also featured in recent surveys funded by the Heritage Council. These include Markus Casey’s work on promontory forts (Casey 2001, 2002, 2003), Colin Shell’s work on Loughcrew (Shell et al. 2004, Shell and Roughley 2004), Stefan Bergh’s work with the Discovery Programme at Mullaghfarna, and the assessment of landscape change and archaeology using satellite imagery of the Burren (ERA-Maptec et al. 2005). 3.10 Current Practicalities of Data Handling The size and character of existing holdings in the SMR and other archives are outlined in Section 2. It is not possible to give an accurate estimate of the rate at which new general-purpose vertical photography surveys are being undertaken and which are likely to be of potential use to archaeology. It appears to be significant, however. Similarly, it is not straightforward to estimate the rate of purposive archaeological reconnaissance being done, given the wide range of institutions, individuals and purposes involved. However, with the combination of work by the Archaeological Survey of Ireland within NMS, the growing use of aerial archaeological reconnaissance of road schemes and other development, some ongoing research and work grant-aided by the Heritage Council, and the continuing work by individuals, a significant number of sites are being discovered each year (Figure 35). Even more may be awaiting discovery through aerial photography and remote imaging carried out for other purposes. Figure 35: Dry conditions in July 2005 revealed a previously unrecorded barrow cemetery in the townlands of Ballyda and Dundaryark, Co. Kilkenny. Ensuring that the National Monuments Record is kept up to date with new discoveries requires active liaison between practitioners and the NMS (Ian Doyle, 26 July 2005) 65
66 While the Archaeological Survey of Ireland routinely integrates the results of its own aerial survey work into the SMR and is constantly seeking to integrate the results of other work, there is currently no requirement — nor is it an automatically recognised good practice standard — that the results of other people’s work funded from public sources should be made available to the SMR. This is not a simple issue because it raises basic questions of intellectual property rights, but these could be addressed through suitable contractual obligations and grant conditions in respect of work funded by or undertaken for public bodies. But the general increase in data, and any improvements in its accessibility, does not take account of the need for more interpretive mapping and more sophisticated analysis of landscape change; this has hardly been touched on, except in the context of specific research projects. As the quantity, technical sophistication and diversity, and rate of output in aerial imaging grows, so the scale and unrealised potential of un-accessed data increases rapidly. At present, there is no means of monitoring these trends, as there is in relation to excavations through the annual excavations index. 14 The increasing use and potential of digital methods of photography and remote sensing, of digitising existing records, developing digital databases of holdings (as the NMS and OSi are doing), and of rectifying, enhancing and analysing digitised images represent highly significant ways of improving data handling and provision of information about existing archives, which is an essential precursor to maximising effective use of these extremely rich sources of data. As the sources of data become more sophisticated, there is an increasing need for a more holistic approach to developing and maximising the benefits of these approaches, ensuring that data handling becomes more efficient, and that archival standards (Bewley et al. 1998) are met. Now that digital imagery has become the norm for most major surveys, there is also a growing need to ensure that the archaeological importance of older archival photographs is not lost. In particular, there remains considerable potential for further use of existing archives and collections (both public and private) to enhance the record. The next section examines in more detail how aerial archaeological evidence has contributed to the Record and the ways in which it has been used for research, conservation, and the wider appreciation of the historic environment. 14 http://www.excavations.ie/Pages/HomePage.php
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A I R A N D E A R T H A E R I A L A
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© An Chomhairle Oidhreachta / The
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3.9 Integration with other Types of
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Figure 14: The Discovery Programme
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Figure 39: This vertical photograph
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10 Foreword One of the initiatives
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12 Acknowledgements It would not ha
Page 15 and 16: 14 Key Priorities for Aerial Archae
Page 17 and 18: 16 • A practical handbook in arch
Page 19 and 20: 18 • A series of pilot studies co
Page 21 and 22: 20 5. Any new strategy for reconnai
Page 23 and 24: 22 As a means of discovering archae
Page 25 and 26: 24 Drawing on the work of O.G.S. Cr
Page 27 and 28: 26 2 PRINCIPAL SOURCES OF AIR PHOTO
Page 29 and 30: 28 National Museum of Ireland While
Page 31 and 32: 30 Other material held by the GSI i
Page 33 and 34: 32 Figure 9: An infrared vertical i
Page 35 and 36: 34 The aims and objectives of these
Page 37 and 38: 36 2.5 Private Collections Dr Daphn
Page 39 and 40: 38 2.6 Commercial Collections Two w
Page 41 and 42: 40 Figure 18: Google Earth satellit
Page 43 and 44: 42 3.2 Aerial Platforms The equipme
Page 45 and 46: 44 Figures 20 a-b: The use of ballo
Page 47 and 48: 46 Figure 23: The true form of the
Page 49 and 50: 48 Figure 25: The cumulative impact
Page 51 and 52: 50 3.4 Conventional Photography: Di
Page 53 and 54: 52 Vertical versus Oblique Photogra
Page 55 and 56: 54 Metrical Survey As Doody observe
Page 57 and 58: 56 shoreline and topography (ground
Page 59 and 60: 58 The fieldwork showed that the ge
Page 61 and 62: 60 Sonar Bathymetry Although there
Page 63 and 64: 62 Both Kelleher (1995) and Redfern
Page 65: 64 Interpreting Chronology and Sequ
Page 69 and 70: 68 County No. Ringforts No. identif
Page 71 and 72: 70 Figure 36: Newly identified crop
Page 73 and 74: 72 Figures 38 a-b: Contrasts in urb
Page 75 and 76: 74 Roles and potential for historic
Page 77 and 78: 76 4.2 Roles in Supporting Archaeol
Page 79 and 80: 78 Figures 41 a-b: Gillian Barrett
Page 81 and 82: 80 The Archaeology of Lakes, Coast
Page 83 and 84: 82 Whole Landscape Approaches Perha
Page 85 and 86: 84 Figure 45: Drumlin landscape nea
Page 87 and 88: 86 Roads The National Roads Authori
Page 89 and 90: 88 Pipelines The general principles
Page 91 and 92: 90 General Development Where there
Page 93 and 94: 92 ‘…numerous sites in pasture
Page 95 and 96: 94 • • Earthen monuments are co
Page 97 and 98: 96 Designed Landscapes and Conserva
Page 99 and 100: 98 showing the clear benefits of in
Page 101 and 102: 100 Figure 55: Aerial photograph of
Page 103 and 104: 102 5 QUALITY, RESOURCES AND ORGANI
Page 105 and 106: 104 Estimates of costs per site or
Page 107 and 108: 106 ago in England, may have meant
Page 109 and 110: 108 6 TEACHING AND TRAINING 6.1 Cov
Page 111 and 112: 110 6.2 Other Provisions for Traini
Page 113 and 114: 112 Benson, D and Miles, D 1974. Th
Page 115 and 116: 114 Doody, M G, 1995. ‘Ballyhoura
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116 Twohig and M. Ronayne (eds) Pas
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118 Raftery, J, 1951. Prehistoric I
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120 Colin Shell Cambridge Universit
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Aerial Archaeology in Ireland - The Heritage Council

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