Details Aerial archaeology

aerial archeological photograph of nazca monkey in peru

the advantages of aerial photographs archaeologists manifold.

large sites first time viewed accurately, in entirety , within landscape. aided production of drawn plans , inspired archaeologists beyond discrete monument , appreciate site s role within setting. photos taken vertically purposes of planning , spatial analysis , obliquely emphasize features or give perspective. through process of photogrammetry, vertical photos can converted scaled plans.

archaeological features may more visible air on ground. in temperate europe, aerial reconnaissance 1 of important ways in new archaeological sites discovered. tiny differences in ground conditions caused buried features can emphasised number of factors , viewed air:

slight differences in ground levels cast shadows when sun low , these can seen best aeroplane. these referred shadow marks.
buried ditches hold more water , buried walls hold less water undisturbed ground, phenomenon, amongst others, causes crops grow better or worse, taller or shorter, on each kind of ground , therefore define buried features apparent tonal or colour differences. such effects called cropmarks.
frost can appear in winter on ploughed fields water has naturally accumulated along lines of buried features. these known frostmarks.
slight differences in soil colour between natural deposits , archaeological ones can show in ploughed fields soilmarks
differences in levels , buried features affect way surface water behaves across site , can produce striking effect after heavy rain.

in cases nazca lines, features meaningless ground visible air.

pioneers of aerial archaeology include roger agache in northern france, antoine poidebard in syria, l w b rees in jordan o. g. s. crawford in england , sir henry wellcome in sudan, giacomo boni in italy.

following in footsteps of henry wellcome, kite aerial photography being used on archaeological sites outside visible spectrum, near ultra-violet through near , thermal infra-red.

kite aerial thermogram revealing features on/under grassed playing field. relative roles played thermal inertia, differential transpiration , evaporation unknown.

aerial archaeology used in processes of research , investigation in aviation archaeology.