Aerial Archaeology in Ireland - The Heritage Council

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Figure 51: A ringfort at Cush, Co. Limerick, showing heavy encroachment of scrub (Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government) Despite its possible shortcomings, the AFAR study did highlight concerns about the rapid rate of decay of rural archaeology in Ireland. Even if its detailed results can be questioned, the need to address the issues raised has, if anything, been reinforced by subsequent surveys by NMS. Other studies (Barrett 1997b, 1997/8; Dunford 2002, 2003; ERA-Maptec et al. 2005) have begun to highlight different aspects of pressures on historic landscape character. Taken together with broader trends in the economics of farming (ICSTI 1999), these issues suggest that significantly more attention needs to be paid to the conservation of the rural historic environment. This need is all the greater now, as current problems with the economic viability of farming mean that there is increasing pressure to intensify production in the more productive areas, while at the same time precipitating a withdrawal from farming in less productive areas, with the subsequent development of unmanaged scrub vegetation on monuments. As noted above (Figure 37), this effect is already discernible in the Burren (Dunford 2002, 2003; ERA-Maptec et al. 2005). Aerial archaeology has very clear potential to play an0 important, and probably very cost-effective, role both in enhancing understanding and in monitoring these trends and their effects on the historic environment (Figure 52). But its use for these purposes is insufficiently developed. a b c Figures 52 a-c: Successive air photographs of Glanfahan, Co. Kerry by (a) St Joseph (1964), (b) Gillian Barrett (1990), and (c) Markus Casey (c.2000) show the impact of modern clearance and land improvement on well-preserved ancient countryside (the latest image shows there has been little change since 1990) 95
96 Designed Landscapes and Conservation Plans While aerial archaeology is not the principal means by which parkland and other designed landscapes can best be understood, it can play a valuable role in their interpretation and the identification of lost features that may show up from pasture marks or other indications. This can be a valuable source of information in the development of restoration or management plans. A good example of this is the Conservation Plan for Russborough, Co. Wicklow (Integrated Conservation Group 2005) where use of both vertical and low-level oblique aerial photography was integrated with historic map evidence to identify previously unrecorded lost aspects of the landscape design (Figure 53). This enabled the position and remains of features such as terraces and paths which had been largely obliterated by later improvements to be identified, accurately located, and taken into account in developing the Conservation Plan for the park. Figure 53: Aerial photography has considerable potential in locating designed landscape features as seen here at Russborough Park, Co. Wicklow. The pond and associated terracing (a, b, c, d, e and f) were mapped by Rocque in 1760 and were clearly visible in low spring light in 2001. (The survey by M. Gowen & Co. Ltd was carried out as part of a Conservation Plan commissioned by the Heritage Council) Coastal Erosion and Management Although the Marine Institute does not have a specific archaeological programme, it has undertaken infrared aerial photography of the whole of the Irish coast( available on CD-Rom 21 ). This is in addition to vertical coverage held by the Geological Survey, OSi and Air Corps, all excellent sources for investigating rates of coastal erosion — a subject of research at the Geography Department of Cork University, among others. In the context of intertidal environments, aerial archaeology has a clear role to play in defining more clearly the extent and character of the archaeological resource and the threat to it, both in terms of more intensive review of existing and new reconnaissance of areas under particular threat of erosion or development. The role of aerial archaeology in the interdisciplinary archaeological survey of Strangford Lough is an excellent example of establishing a thorough basis for research and informed decision-making (O’Sullivan et al. 1997; McErlean et al. 2002 Figure 81) 21 http://www.marine.ie/publicationsandlibrary
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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
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14 Key Priorities for Aerial Archae
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16 • A practical handbook in arch
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18 • A series of pilot studies co
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20 5. Any new strategy for reconnai
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22 As a means of discovering archae
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24 Drawing on the work of O.G.S. Cr
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26 2 PRINCIPAL SOURCES OF AIR PHOTO
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28 National Museum of Ireland While
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30 Other material held by the GSI i
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32 Figure 9: An infrared vertical i
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34 The aims and objectives of these
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36 2.5 Private Collections Dr Daphn
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38 2.6 Commercial Collections Two w
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40 Figure 18: Google Earth satellit
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42 3.2 Aerial Platforms The equipme
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Page 115 and 116: 114 Doody, M G, 1995. ‘Ballyhoura
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Page 119 and 120: 118 Raftery, J, 1951. Prehistoric I
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