Unit information: Air Photographic Survey in 2014/15

Unit name	Air Photographic Survey
Unit code	ARCH20041
Credit points	10
Level of study	I/5
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Dr. Powlesland
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
Faculty	Faculty of Arts

Description including Unit Aims

This Unit will introduce students to the methodologies and techniques used in interpreting air photographs and will look at its application in archaeology. Throughout the twentieth century the techniques and the scope of air photography has made great advances and as a result there is a large body of data available to the archaeologist. The value of air photographs for archaeological research has been recognised, but accurate interpretation requires an understanding of the whole landscape. Archaeological sites are not always identifiable from earthworks alone and the contribution air photography can make in the identification of sites and as an aid to interpretation is unquestioned. The themes to be examined will include the formation of crop and soil marks; the problems in interpretation; regional patterns within Britain; how to plot and prepare plots for publication. Students will have the opportunity of applying the techniques to studying and interpreting an air photograph of their own.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On completion of the unit successful students will be able to:

1. Recognise archaeological features on air photographs,
2. Distinguish marks and features of non-archaeological origin,
3. Interpret archaeological features on air photographs,
4. Accurately transcribe archaeological features from an air photograph on to an OS base map,
5. Plot and prepare plots for publication at an appropriate scale on modern OS base maps.

Teaching Information

Two days of lectures & practical sessions

Assessment Information

Tutor assessment in class.

Transcription exercise using the paper strip method, to plot two cropmarks onto OS base maps (50%), Assesses ILOs 1-5

A short interpretive report (50%), Assesses ILOs 1-5

Reading and References

Brophy, K. & Cowley, D. 2005. From the Air: Understanding Aerial Archaeology. Stroud, Tempus.

Crawford, O.G.S. 1928. Wessex From The Air, Clarendon, London.

Riley, D.N. 1982. Aerial Archaeology in Britain. Princes Risborough, Shire Series.

Riley, D.N. 1987. Air Photography& Archaeology in Britain. Duckworth, London.

Wilson, D.M. 2000. Air Photo Interpretation for Archaeologists. Stroud, Tempus.