AppdArchaeology.com
Supporting archaeological research
From Excavation to Landscape Survey
Following my previous excavation and trench survey work with Clyde Archaeology, I was brought on as a subcontractor to assist with archaeological surveys for Forestry and Land Scotland. This was an opportunity to build upon the methods I had developed recording individual trenches and apply them to larger archaeological landscapes, often in remote and difficult terrain.
I combined drone photogrammetry with centimetre-accurate GNSS recording to produce detailed orthographic plans of archaeological sites and structures. The aim was to produce archaeological illustrations in the style of the Royal Commission, which guided how we approached each survey and the detail I needed to capture. I processed the data each evening, allowing us to review the results and identify anything requiring further recording while still in the field.
I also used QField to bring existing archaeological plans into the field, overlaying them onto our position when revisiting previously surveyed sites. This helped us compare earlier interpretations with the surviving archaeology and better understand how features fitted into the wider landscape. I found this particularly useful and intend to incorporate QField more extensively into future surveys.
Where bracken obscured the terrain, I used Cloth Simulation Filtering (CSF) to classify photogrammetric point clouds, filtering out vegetation before interpolating ground data to produce terrain models and contours for illustration. Both approaches have proved useful, and I have since incorporated vegetation filtering into other surveys while looking to make greater use of QField in future fieldwork.
Recording Difficult Structures
Alongside landscape survey, I used photogrammetry to record standing structures and wall elevations. These would otherwise have required considerable time and additional equipment to measure and draw by hand, particularly when working on exposed hillsides where equipment had to be carried considerable distances and wind made conventional recording more difficult.
One particularly interesting example was a well-preserved corn-drying kiln (shown at the bottom of the page). Its curved internal walls would have been extremely difficult and time-consuming to record accurately using conventional drawing methods. By creating a detailed 3D model and experimenting with cylindrical projections, I was able to produce an unwrapped view of the interior, making the structure much easier to examine and illustrate. As the kiln was not perfectly cylindrical, the projection introduced some distortion, but it provided a useful way of recording a complex feature that would otherwise have been difficult to represent at all in a conventional drawing.
Developing Practical Survey Methods
Working in these environments and in these varying conditions helped me develop my experience of surveying archaeological landscapes beyond just excavations. They required me to adapt my methods to different types of archaeology, terrain and recording requirements, while working efficiently within the available time.
I particularly enjoyed finding ways to make difficult recording tasks more manageable. Being able to rapidly process and review the surveys meant that the results could inform the work while we were still on site, rather than discovering problems after leaving, giving peace of mind. The experience has been important in developing my approach to landscape survey, combining practical archaeological understanding with the technical skills needed to collect, process and illustrate complex spatial data.
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