The Scottish National Aerial Photography Scheme (SNAPS)

West Lothian Archaeological Trust

www.wlatrust.org.uk

Scottish Charity No. SC043118

Rosie's Scottish National Aerial Photography Scheme (SNAPS)

providing free kite aerial photography (KAP) kits for children, students and their mentors

Updated 6 Nov 2014

149 Recipients so far

173 KAP Kits

92 keyring cameras

including 4 830nm NIR conversions

94 compact cameras

including 1 Canon A2200 CHDK 720nm NIR conversion

Funded by the late

Rosie Wells

Before moving to Armadale, West Lothian, Rosie was a teacher in Stroud, Gloucestershire.

Kites over Stroud Facebook

From 12 September 2014, after 16 months, Phase 1 of the Scheme (visible spectrum) will be closed to recipients outside West Lothian and Stroud, Gloucestershire, apart from those already listed below.

This is in anticipation of Phase 2 of the Scheme, the near infra-red.

Contact: John Wells


Thanks to Bill Kerr for the kite.	* Rosie was a teacher at schools in the Stroud area and made kites with pupils at Marling School. Here she is flying our first KAP kite on Minchinhampton Common in 1999 (first flown with a camera in 2007), made by her aunt Ivy Apperley of the Golden Valley Kite Fliers.

West Lothian Archaeology

Group Members

Kite Aerial Remote Sensing (Facebook)

SNAPS Forum

The Scheme's Irish Connection

SNAPS on Facebook

Early Kite Aerial Photography

Labruguière, France 1889	San Francisco 1906 (Clickable larger image)	Archaeological Site 1913	Aerial Photography Unit WWI

SNAPS Pilot Project

Phase 1: visible Phase 2: near infra-red

Phase 1 officially launched 1st May 2013

Phase 2 On hold at present *

PHASE 2 Near Infra-red

* There is some uncertainty at present about the conversion of our Pentax WG-10 cameras. If all goes ahead, these cameras will be reserved for proven KAPers already within the Scheme, with priority to Group members. We will probably supply these with both 720nm and 850nm IR filters.

The fall-back position is to convert 808#16D cameras (830nm filter), which we can do ourselves. These HD video cameras are more than adequate for prospection and can be flown attached to the Scheme's Pentax WG-10s.

Unconverted Pentax WG-10 with near infra-red converted HD808#16D video camera attached.

So far, one compact and four 808#16D conversions have been donated.

Kite aerial photography is a technique suitable for all ages.
Seasoned veteran, WLAG member, Bronwen Knowles, age 12, flying a £600+ rig at Winchburgh, with Sony Nex 5R camera and Samyang 8mm full-frame fisheye lens, on a HQ Flowform 2.0 kite. Clothes to match the jeep were not a requirement ;o)
August 2013. HQ Flowform 2.0 kite, a rugged but often tough kite to handle.

Bronwen some years earlier on Cairnpapple, making fire.

If you can fly a kite, you can fly a camera.......
Tom Wells of Armadale (2½ years old).	Davie Kerr (in his late 80s) of Armadale, flying a Power Sled 36.
.......but the careful choice of equipment is crucial! Kite aerial photography is an environmentally friendly, simple, cheap, effective, safe and inclusive technique. But avoid flying with low clouds and especially with a wet line You do not need a thunderstorm to get an electric shock

Other Aerial Photographic Techniques for Children

including rubbish bags and water rockets


Near infra-red converted 808#16D micro HD video camera on a rubbish bag.

Our kite aerial photography kits

Scientific research using kites in Scotland goes back to the late 1740s, when Dr Alexander Wilson (Later Regius Professor of Astronomy) of Glasgow University carried out meteorological experiments with one of his students, Thomas Melvill.

An energetic pupil from Murrayfield Primary School, Blackburn, bringing down the kite and Pentax W60 camera at a public event run by Historic Scotland Rangers.

2010

More recently, kite aerial photography (KAP) has flourished in Scotland with many notable practitioners and innovators like Simon Harbord and West Lothian's James Gentles. The West Lothian Archaeological Trust, and Archaeology Group, use kite aerial photography as a principal technique for aerial surveys (1), (2).

In 2012, terminally ill Trust and Group co-founder, Rosie Wells, asked for some of her money (Outside of the Trust) to be set aside for funding a pilot project to investigate and introduce cheap, simple, low-level aerial photography techniques to children and students. Therefore, as part of our activities, we donate kite aerial photography starter and standard kits to a range of groups and individuals. This pilot project is partly to establish a reliable system for working with children and to encourage the progression to more interesting techniques, such as working in the near infra-red (NIR), phase 2 of the Scheme.

Near infra-red kite aerial photo (IR 808#16D)

Pupils from Toronto Primary School, Livingston, studying pond life and flying kites with cameras. A West Lothian school taking a pioneering lead in the pursuit of excellence through innovation. Spring 2013

The first standard kit (With Pentax W60) was donated to Edinburgh University Archaeology Society in October 2012 (and another one a year later). Three months later, we had produced and tested a viable starter kit and, in April 2013, one was donated to an individual Edinburgh archaeology student, Hannah, for use in the Society's outreach programme with schools.

Katie and Anna with Edinburgh University Arch.Soc.'s Picavet KAP rig, Pentax W60 camera and kites

2012

By the Pilot Project's official launch date, 1st May 2013, the Trust had already distributed nine kite aerial photography kits, including both starter and standard systems.

Phase 1 - ongoing in West Lothian and Stroud, Gloucestershire.

KAP kit No.1 & 1NIR

(Starter)

Video clip (2)

Near infra-red video clip (NIR camera).

A gentle, robust, light system.

The camera is velcroed onto the pad at the top left after the kite line has been wrapped around the wire about six times. (The supplied transverse pendulum is a little longer than shown for added stability)

Cost to put such a kit together online ~£65

Use a safety line

HQ Delta Graphic 2m kite - Make sure that the outer spars are pushed down to the lower corners of the kite before flight. In a strong, steady breeze, this kite with a good tail, can lift the rig supplied with KAP kit No.2 using kit No.2's stronger Dacron line.

18g 808#16D from eletoponline365 on eBay (Manual) 120° (diagonal) wide-angle HD video camera (details) and 2GB Micro SD card. If you have problems getting the camera to work try reinserting the SD card. If that fails, reformat the card using the setup program. There any many poorer quality versions out there!!!

Recommended free video player: VideoLan (click on 'View' and then 'Advanced Controls' after installation). Use VideoLan to select the best stills from the video.

This small camera is good on a pole too.

Wire rig (2) Supplier of this gauge wire.

Velcro

808#16D micro HD video camera

Tip: When the string is reeled out, if the camera is bobbing about too much, walk forwards for a short distance until the line bows a little. The camera should then become transiently stable and give a steady section of video.

To turn the camera on press the button shown below for about 2 to 3 seconds until the light changes from red to green. The light should remain on, indicating standby mode.	To start the video recording briefly press the button shown below and the light should flash 3 times and then go out. The camera is now shooting video.

Reverse the process to stop the video and then turn off the camera. Use the black USB lead to connect the camera to the computer for charging and for downloading the videos (with the camera in standby mode). The micro SD card can also be removed.

KAP kit No.2

(Standard)

A tough, waterproof, shock resistant system with a replaceable UV filter on the front of the lens.

Cost to put such a kit together online ~£230 min., based on the Celtic Delta.

Replacement spars (eg 1)

Repair tape (eg 1 , 2)

HQ Power Sled M 1.7, HQ 3m Delta Graphic Rainbow*, 9ft Emma Kites Mylar Delta*, 9ft Mylar Delta copy or Spirit of Air, 2.6m Giant Celtic Delta (line and reel included). Basic guide

With the delta, make sure that the outer spars are pushed down to the lower corners of the kite before flight. With the sled, if one of the fibreglass spars pops out of the fabric, do not fly it until the spar is reinserted with the end cap in place.

Compact camera (formerly the Pentax WG 1** with built-in interval mode - now the the Pentax WG-10, but soon being replaced by the Pentax/Ricoh WG20) and SD card. Manual

Typical settings for KAP work with the WG-10, with ISO 200 and interval set to 10 seconds.

Other techniques for triggering camera shutters.

Brooxes Simplex Picavet rig.

Halo reel with ~90m of 65daN (140lb) Dacron Black line or, latterly, 60m of 220lb Dacron line.

* The HQ 3m deltas are no longer exported to the UK and the 9ft Mylar delta is no longer shipped to the UK by Emma Kites.

** The WG 2 and 3 do not allow interval mode to be selected along with sports mode, as with the WG1, so faster speeds cannot be set as a preference. However, the WG 1/2/3 cameras can also be operated with a GentLed which will give shorter interval shooting times than 10 seconds and still permit the use of sports mode. The Pentax WG-10 appears to be like the WG-1.

Phase 2 - initiating

KAP kit No.3

(NIR Standard)

As kit No.2 but with NIR compact camera

Currently awaiting feedback about the conversion of Pentax WG-10s

There is some uncertainty at present about the conversion of our Pentax WG-10 cameras. If all goes ahead, these cameras will be reserved for proven KAPers already within the Scheme, with priority to Group members. We will probably supply these with both 720nm and 850nm IR filters.

In unstable winds, assuming that there is sufficient lift, the addition of a fuzzy tail (1) (2) helps stabilise the kite. We normally provided these with the above kits. Handle the kites with care and do not drag them along the ground. Do not fly in winds gusting over 20mph. Aim to fly in a light to moderate breeze. Always check the weather forecast. Keep away from power lines, trees, buildings and airports. In the UK do not fly a kite above 60m, unless you have obtained special permission from the Civil Aviation Authority.

With the deltas, always bend the spreader spar to fit the pockets, do not pull on the pockets or you will find yourself needing repair tape!

Avoid flying in winds above 20mph, you will damage the kite and probably write-off the camera.

Do not hand the kit to someone that you have not instructed in its use, unless you are supervising them.

Remember sturdy gloves!

Always check that the Pentax is set to its widest angle, not telephoto, before flight.

Kite lines are supplied with swivels for attaching to the kite when flown. Swivels are useful for untwisting lines. After prolonged use, swivels can fail and, ideally, the line should be attached directly to the kite using a knot, or replace the swivel after prolonged use. This is less of an issue with the gentle starter kit. The kite and line should be checked regularly for signs of wear.

Launch the kite at the end of at least 20m of line and fly it for a while to check its stability before attaching the camera. The further the camera is attached away from the kite, the more stable it will be.

Homemade Picavet rig with power sled 24 kite (June 2007)

Published with the kind permission of David Hunt

If you have any problems with the kit, including damage, or queries, please get back to me.

Feedback is both encouraged and welcomed. The Scheme is the first of its kind and I am sure that there is significant scope for improvement.

This page is under constant revision.

John Wells

johnwlatrust.org.uk

Crop marks at Nesley Farm, Gloucestershire.

June 2011

One of many ways to tie a line to a kite

1	2

3	4
Important: At stage 3, pull the top of the loop on the left to tighten the knot. It is crucial that the lower loop is pulled through the knot to bind it securely. Note the anti-slip knot at the end of the line. Knots see also here

Jim Knowles and John Wells demonstrating kite aerial photography on Cairnpapple.

Aligning the camera on the Brooxes Simplex Picavet rig ready for launching.

2012

Inverness and Ross and Cromarty Young Archaeologists Clubs, West Mulchaich.

2009

Near infra-red kite aerial photography at the Hidden Heritage Project excavations in Tarbet along with with Northlight Heritage and school groups.

May 2013

If you are flying a kite alone, it is useful to be able to fasten the kite line to an anchor point so that you can more easily attach or detach the camera suspension. How to anchor the kite line with a quick release knot.

Form a double loop as shown above and anchor using the two loops. On removing the line, simply pull the single loop to untie.

Cairnpapple looking southwards, August 2009 (Pentax Optio W60).

Near Ultraviolet to the Thermal Infra-Red

Near infra-red

KAP: Visible and near infra-red taken by Jim Knowles at Rufford.
This is a proven technique with cameras starting around £40......or free within SNAPS!

Thermal infra-red

Visible and thermal infra-red images taken by Ulrich Kiesow from a microlight. © archaeoflug.de

KAP: Ogilface Castle taken by John and the late Rosie Wells

More work is needed in the thermal infra-red to understand and optimise survey timing, but cameras are expensive....at present.

Near ultraviolet

Near ultraviolet KAP, but at a lower angle, taken by John and the late Rosie Wells.

< Visible section overlapping with foreground of the NUV image above.

Much more work is needed in the UV but application may be limited to excavation sites and man-made materials and minerals.

Kite aerial photography of archaeological sites

Gormyre Hill

Imaging sites can be split broadly into 6 main areas of interest

Location

_____________________________________

Delineation

_____________________________________

Assimilation

Building, wall, post hole, brick, pebble etc.

_____________________________________

Manipulation

Process, stitch, 3D model, illuminate etc. Often, photographers are frustrated by the quality of some their images. Images can be transformed by simply clicking on 'auto levels' in Photoshop or the equivalent in many other programs (eg. the free GIMP or the simple Picasa which also allows you to level the horizon), followed by sharpening the image. Photoscan (download free and have a go) is our program of choice for both stitching images and for constructing virtual 3D models. A section on this stage will be included at a later date.

_____________________________________

Interpretation

_____________________________________

Presentation

Project, print (inc. 3D), animate etc.

The image resolution (and therefore choice of camera) required will vary on the height from which the images are to be acquired. For site location and delineation, the Starter Kit is more than adequate (1250x720 pixels), with images only several hundred pixels wide being sufficient, or even less in the original thermal image above.

PenCam 352 x 288 pixel image of Cairnpapple

The Scottish National Aerial Photography Scheme's

Kite Aerial Photography Competition

2013 Winners

Section Winner

Toronto Primary School

West Lothian

The best aerial image taken with one of the kite kits and submitted by a primary school, or group of similar age.

Toronto Primary School, Livingston, West Lothian, for their image of Blawhorn Moss, Blackridge.

< The image has been reproduced on a sheet of 1st Class stamps.

Section Winner

Gill Russell

Aberdeenshire

The best aerial image taken with a Starter Kit, by anyone (excl. primary schools).

Gill Russell of Glenbuchat Strathdon, Aberdeenshire, for her Starter Kit image of Tomnaverie stone circle near Tarland.

Gill now has a Standard Kit.

Section Winner

Séamus Ó Murchú

Dublin

The best aerial image taken with a Standard Kit, by anyone.

The image has been made into postcards for Séamus.

Séamus has also been sent the first of the Scheme's Phase 2, 720nm near infra-red converted, compact cameras.

Séamus Ó Murchú, ArchaeoLandscapes PhD student at University College Dublin, for his Standard Kit image of The Caher, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland (1, 2).

Kite Aerial Photography Competition for 2014

Details of the 2014 competition will be announced during 2014 and winning entries will again be selected from those submitted by the Scheme's recipients.

Kite aerial photography kit recipients

Are the kits working well? Let us know.....send a picture for inclusion below ;o)

JohnWLATrust.org.uk

You can also post on our SNAPS Forum and tell everyone who you are and what you are doing, or intend doing, with the kit.

Photos do not correspond with any particular kit camera (any photo can be from either kit).

Starter Kit

NIR = 830nm near infra-red (4)

Standard Kit

NIR = 720nm near infra-red (1)

Edinburgh University Archaeology Society

ARCH SOC ;o)

Armadale Camera Club - West Lothian

excl. camera

Hannah McGlynn - Edinburgh Archaeology Outreach Project

Ron Dingwall - History of Armadale Association and West Lothian Archaeology Group SNAPS Schools Coordinator

St Tanwg's Church near Harlech, Wales.

Cockleroy Hillfort

< Nant Gwytheryn Quarries

David Connolly - British Archaeological Jobs and Resources and West Lothian Archaeology Group - East Lothian

Buckets and spades in North Berwick (Edinburgh Fringe).

Flying the kite and rig at Whitecastle

Luggate, site of 7^th century chapel

Brian Wilkinson - Britain from Above Activity Officer - Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland - West Lothian Archaeology Group - West Lothian

Alvie Primary School at Ballourie no wind so used pole

Allt Na Baranachd, Cairngorms

John - South Ayrshire

excl camera

Rural Connect - West Lothian

Hidden Heritage Project - Argyll and Bute

Pupil from Hermitage Academy taking his turn.

Near infra-red video clip

Katy Firth - Northlight Heritage - Council for British Archaeology Trainee - Glasgow

Edinburgh Young Archaeologists Club >

www.edinburghyac.wordpress.com/photo-archive/

Pupils from Kirkmichael Primary School with their trenches on the Glenshee excavation

Camstane Quarry in Holyrood Park

Bernice Keegan - West Lothian

Young kite aerial photographers in Torphichen with the Standard Kit!

Wonderful Wild Wednesdays events of

Rural Connect

Howden Park

Armadale

Sybil and Brian Cavanagh - West Lothian

Roger Griffith - North Ayrshire (a member of the Canmore User Group) (1) (2) (830nm NIR)

Ardeer Primary School pupils.

Still from first video

Barrmill Village: Still from aerial survey

Toronto Primary School - West Lothian

Pupils at Blawhorn Moss West Lothian

Becky Plunkett - West Lothian Council Greenspace Officer

Alison Sheridan et al. - National Museum of Scotland - Edinburgh - West Lothian Archaeology Group

Clarkly Hill (Fraser Hunter)

Clarkly Hill (Fraser Hunter)

Santiago Arribas - Historic Scotland Edinburgh

Rangers - Historic Scotland Linlithgow, West Lothian

Ricardo Costa - Portugal

9ft Mylar Delta kite only

Armadale Primary School - West Lothian

A page from their Memory Cave Cafe* calendar.

*supported by Alzheimer Scotland.

Val Dufeu - Clackmannanshire

Steven Raeside - Scottish Industrial Preservation Trust, Glasgow (deceased)

camera only

Lindsey - Glasgow School of Art and Scottish Industrial Preservation Trust

Julie Gibson - University of the Highlands and Islands, Orkney

Andrew Coulson - Musselburgh Conservation Society, Musselburgh

First outing

David McClean - Education Officer, West Lothian

Tom Hill - Armadale Academy, West Lothian

Tom Smith - West Lothian Family History Society, West Lothian

Alex Hale - Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Scotland, Edinburgh

Oliver O'Grady - Living Lomonds Landscape Partnership

Steve and Julia Barton - Nottingham

Castlerigg Stone Circle Cumbria

First flight at an archaeological site.

Betty Hunter - History of Armadale Association, West Lothian

First outing

Steve Cole - Canal Greenspace Development Officer
Waterways Trust (1) (2)

and Louise Gamble (Community Engagement Officer - Council for British Archaeology Trainee)

First archaeological on-site flight with the Twechar Youth Group (Barhill, to right).

Easter Carmuirs Primary School visit to the Falkirk Wheel.

Barrhill Roman Fort (Twechar) -

Richard Strachan - Historic Scotland

Daniel Wood - Student - Leeds

Stroud District (and nearby) Gloucestershire

Bristol Dig Berkeley

Rob Berry - University of Gloucestershire Gloucestershire

Heidi Walker (and Jason) - WLAG, Stroud, Glos. Heidi is a Volunteer Photographer with the National Trust

Tintagel

< Tintagel ^

Tump on Selsey Common, near Stroud.

The end of Passage Road by the River Severn

Alice Gibbs - Cirencester College / Royal Agricultural University - Gloucestershire

Heidi Walker with Alice Gibbs (right)

Cirencester College

Jo Kingsbury - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds Glasgow multiple users and use

x x

Stefan Sagrott - National Trust for Scotland

Dominic Powlesland - schools project on the DMV at East Heslerton

Ian Lewis - Oatridge College - Scotland's Rural College - West Lothian

Torphichen Primary School - Ms Ferguson - West Lothian

First flight - part of their Prehistory Project with Historic Scotland, Rural Connect and Northlight Heritage etc.

Jeff Sanders - Scottish Archaeological Research Framework / Dig It! 2015 - Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Edinburgh

The DigIt!2015 website is officially launched 15 March 2014

A cautionary note from Jeff

Susan and Robin Hunter - Association of Certificated Field Archaeologists

Carol Dickson - Edinburgh Archaeological Field Society Edinburgh

Bill Kerr - Kite Club of Scotland - West Lothian Archaeology Group - West Lothian

First outing with the new camera within 1 day of receipt, taken in miserable conditions.

Camera only

Eastertoun Primary School - West Lothian

Windyknowe Primary School - West Lothian

Balbardie Primary School - West Lothian

Armadale Beavers - West Lothian

Kirkliston Primary School - West Lothian

Kirkhill Primary School - West Lothian

Blackridge Primary School - West Lothian

Ken Bowker - Moidart History Group

Acharacle Primary School - Highland

Arisaig Primary School - Highland

Gill Russell - Glenbuchat Strathdon Aberdeenshire

Tomnaverie stone circle near Tarland.

Taken with the starter kit, demonstrating that lighting is everything!

Paul Adams - Scottish Natural Heritage (Blawhorn Moss)

Blawhorn Moss

Paul Duffy - Bute

Paul Cordes - Tyne and Wear (DART Workshop follow-up)

Detection of Archaeological Residues using remote sensing Techniques (DART)

Horizon Scanning Workshop - Leeds University

Random number generator, 3 Starter Kit prizes ;o

Carmen Cuenca-Garcia, Crete

x Sent as follow-up

Elaine

Hannah Brown - University of Bradford

Field boundaries and sheep ;o)

Sent as follow-up

Allan's Primary School - Stirling

James Young High School - Livingston

Giles Carey - Warwick (1, 2, 3) (830nm NIR)

3D model of Oswestry Hillfort west entrance.

Wonston village

Thornborough Central Henge

Jonathan and Ian - Murieston Environmental Group

Archaeology Scotland (830nm NIR)

Heritage Heroes Project: Biggar aerial photography crew.

Outing to Boghall Castle

Michael Brown (830nm NIR)

Clackmannanshire Field Studies Society

Inaugural flight on Cairnpapple

Kite flyer Sadie Archibald

Sophie Nicol - Perth and Kinross Heritage Trust

Anna Welti - WeDigs in Wester Ross

Mrs Bruce - Linlithgow Bridge Primary School - West Lothian

Linlithgow Mill Stories: A project involving the Local History Library and Museums Galleries Scotland.

West Lothian Council and Lottery Funded

Flying from the school playground, looking northwards, to locate the site of the old paper mill.

Paul Sorowka - Stirling Field and Archaeological Society

Colin Davenport - Stirling Young Archaeologists' Club

Taken on the way home, after collecting the kit.

Phil Bowyer - Tynedale Archaeology

Karin Chipulina - East Lothian Forest School

Andi Neilson - East Lothian Forest School

Ross Flemington - East Lothian Forest School, Pilmeny Development Project and Edinburgh City Council Community Learning and Development South

plus Celtic Delta

Jane Summers - Aboyne Academy Aberdeenshire and NESARS

pending

pending x2

Nicola Hamilton - Lecropt Nursery - Bridge of Allan

Frank McElhinney - Glasgow School of Art

Now co-founder of the GSA Kite Flying Society

Around Bannockburn

Seren Griffiths - HeritageTogether.org - 3D modelling

plus spare kite

Óskar Gísli Sveinbjarnarson - Aberdeen University

HQ FF2 kite only

Linda Moorhouse - Cree Valley Community Woodlands Trust (Archaeology)

Murrayfield Primary School - West Lothian

Amanda-Jane - 115th Scout Group

pending

Mary Saunders - Bradford University (Archaeology) - West Lothian Archaeology Group

A photogrammetric model of part of the landscape in the Dales.

Sarah Chapman and Lynsey McNab - The Sir Duncan Rice Library - University of Aberdeen

Bathgate Historic Conservation Society - Joseph Welsh

Westfield Primary School - West Lothian

Newton Primary School - Dunblane

Sandra Miller - World Heritage Site Ranger Service - Orkney

Strathyre Primary School

Sarah Young - Dedridge Primary School - West Lothian

St David's Primary School - Edinburgh

St Anthony's Primary School - Armadale

plus helium rubbish bag kit

Parkhead Primary School - West Calder

Aberdeen University Archaeology Society

Jacques le Roux - Bathgate Academy - West Lothian

Renfrewshire Local History Forum - Andrew Eadie

A group present at the DigIt!2015 launch ?

Stirling Council Ranger Service - Fiona Watson (archaeology - CBA trainee)

pending

Scottish Coastal Archaeology and the Problem of Erosion (SCAPE) - Joanna Hambly

Lauren McIntyre - Elmet Archaeological Services

Derryck Reid - Outreach - Heriot Watt University

x (plus spare camera)

Keith Dingwall

Crubenbeg holiday Cottages near Newtonmore.

Laura Eagleson - Community Ranger - The National Trust for Scotland

pending

Helen Goodchild - Dept. Archaeology - York University

Catherine Parker - HS and Sanday Archaeology Group - Orkney

Douglas Scott - Easter Ross

Torhouse stone circle in Galloway

Aileen Penny - Aberfoyle Primary School

Archaeology Above and Below

A meeting of invited participants, with the Taoiseach, at Balla Secondary School, Co. Mayo., Europe's flagship school in kite and geophysical archaeological remote sensing.

4th April 2014

Image Courtesy Western Care Association - Photographer John Moylette.

The Prime Minister of Ireland, Enda Kenny along with participants, including members of SNAPS and seven members of West Lothian Archaeology from Armadale (John), Linlithgow (Jim), Stroud (Heidi), Claremorris, Co. Mayo (Kevin), Waterford (Tina), Turlough, Castlebar, Co. Mayo (Christy) and Dublin (Séamus).

Standing immediately behind the Prime Minister is the eminent Irish archaeo-geophysicist Kevin Barton (left) with Dr. Axel G. Posluschny from the Roman-Germanic Commission of the German Archaeological Institute and Project Leader of the EU's Culture Programme's ArchaeoLandscapes Europe Project. The Prime Minister gave and informed talk on heritage and archaeology and emphasised how local studies help reinforce a local and national identity. He also spoke about the increasing use of low-level aerial photography, including kites.

The meeting had a variety of talks, outdoor work with kite aerial photography and poster displays, but also included the entrants to a heritage poster competition for schools. The posters of professionals, amateurs and school children were presented together, something to keep the professionals on their toes ;o)

Schools Poster Competition

The Prime Minister presented the first prize, symbolically a kite, to pupils from Lankill for their poster of a heritage walk around their town.

John presented the second prize for a poster on Balla.

This meeting was followed by an open meeting at the Rathcroghan Visitor Centre, Tulsk, Co. Roscommon.

5-6th April 2014

Roscommon Castle

Flash Earth

Kite aerial photos taken in both the visible spectrum and rain!


Oblique view	Inverted (negative)	Near vertical tilt of an inverted, virtual 3D model.

	An example of mapping on a colour gradient, where thresholds can be varied (model as above).
As their hotel was close by, Jim and John strolled over to Roscommon Castle and took some kite aerial photos. Although the features in the field may not be archaeological (?), these images illustrate visual KAP, which can then be extended into the near and thermal infra-red and followed up with geophysical surveys if appropriate.

Recipients in Ireland

(and at the conference)

(normally, kits are no longer supplied outside Scotland)

Kevin Barton

Hill of Tara

Rathbeg

Rathcroghan - A kite and kite flyer top left!

Balla Secondary School, Co Mayo - ArcLand BARS Project / Balla Secondary School, Co Mayo.

Rathcroghan (2) with geophysics survey grid in place

Tina Keating - Copper Coast Geopark - Waterford

Dunhill Castle and the Anne Valley with the 5th year students from Stella Maris Secondary School, Tramore. Co Waterford.

All images from the kites first outing!!!

Ian Brown - Keble College - Oxford

Frank Scott (Facebook) - Roscommon Heritage Group

Rath Brennan, Co. Roscommon.

Rathcroghan

Séamus Ó Murchú - University College Dublin - West Lothian Archaeology Group (720nm NIR)

The Caher, Glendalough, County Wicklow, Ireland (1, 2)

Gary Dempsey - Glasgow School of Art

Larger version

Conor Brady - Dundalk Institute of Technology

Balla Secondary School (backup)

Rathcroghan Visitor Centre - Roscommon, Ireland. Community and School projects initiated by Gary Dempsey and Kevin Barton.

Rindoon

Pauline McDermott - Tochar Valley Rural Community Network

Amanda Young - Navan Fort

Joe Fenwick - National University of Ireland - Galway

Ross Errilly Friary, North Galway. ^

Roscam early monastic site, East Galway. >

David McGuinness - Westmeath Archaeological & Historical Society

Stella Maris Secondary School - Co. Waterford

Christy Lawless - Field Archaeologist - Co. Mayo

Round Tower and Church, Turlough, Castlebar, Co Mayo.

Crannog, Achill Island off the Co. Mayo coast.

Staigue Stone Fort, Co. Kerry.

Round Tower and Church, Turlough, Castlebar, Co Mayo. (4 miles north east of Castlebar). Church founded by St. Patrick in the 5th century. Round Tower 9th-12th century.

Deserted Village, Achill Island, Co. Mayo, West of Ireland.

Creevykeel Court Tomb, Cliffony, Co Sligo.

Nymphsfield Stone Circle, Cong, Co. Mayo.

Earthen Ringfort (adjacent to the Round Tower).

Achill Henge – A modern Stonehenge look-alike.

Rathlacken Court Tomb, Lacken, North Co Mayo. (Pole aerial photo)

Eochai’s Cairn, Cairn, The Neale, Co. Mayo.

Yvonne McDermott - Galway Mayo Institute of Technology

^ The view across Balla with the school on the left and the old walled garden in the foreground, taken by the students (Flash Earth).

< Students at Balla Secondary School with Heidi left, Jim at the top and John with Geography teacher Anna Finlay, who helped make the meeting such a success.

Here is a still from a simple, virtual 3D model looking vertically downwards. The model was constructed from 4 images, taken by the students, from roughly the same position, hence the lower resolution on the far, northern side. The camera positions are numbered and indicated in blue at the left of the image. Ideally, images should be captured from around any feature. The black areas are regions not visible to the camera.

General Background to Teaching Archaeology in School

A Continuing Professional Development Course for West Lothian Teachers, 4.30 to 6.30pm, 27th May

(Middle – Upper Primary Teachers. Secondary teachers to S3)

SRUC Oatridge Campus

Ecclesmachan, Broxburn, EH52 6NH, West Lothian.

Russell.Smith@sruc.ac.uk Tel. 01506 864800 Ext.192

Archaeology

First session with a member of staff from Archaeology Scotland, looking at a general background in archaeology in schools, with emphasis on skills, modern methods and techniques and how this applies to the classroom and grounds.

Kite Aerial Photography

Second session looking at the kite aerial photography, using kites and cameras with members of West Lothian Archaeological Trust. Kite aerial photography kits for all attending teachers to take back to their schools.

(Photo: Courtesy Rural Connect)

David Banks - ASD Outreach - Cedarbank/Deans Community High School - Livingston

First flight - Bing Land

Patrick - Kirkhill Primary

Tom Wallace - Autism Outreach - Deans/Cedarbank

K.S. - Autism Outreach

Craig Potter - Knightridge Primary

Planned Project(s) of Bo'ness Schools and 'Friends of Kinneil' - Falkirk

Initiated and coordinated by Maria Ford, Friends of Kinneil.

Friends of Kinneil

pending

Bo'ness Public School

School (pending)

Pierre (pupil) x

Kinneil School

St Mary's RC School

Deanburn Primary School

Blackness Primary School

Grange School

Jill Masson - Broxburn Academy

Bob Stewart - Lanarkshire Family History Society

pending

Robin Sharp - Dunfermline & District Probus Club

Tamsyn Sloan

Jane Miller - Flodden Young Archaeologists' Club

Dun Dornaigil

First outing!

Helen Webber - Kirkland High School and Community College / Buckhaven High School - Fife (Extension from Living Lomonds above)

x x

Over 20 photographic poles have also been donated since 2008.

A member of Falkirk Young Archaeologists' Club using one of the poles donated to Archaeology Scotland, October 2009.

Jim, Cade, Heidi and John of West Lothian Archaeology with a (discontinued) Sutton Flow Form on Cairnpapple.

Blackness Castle looking south-westwards, June 2010 (Pentax Optio W60).

An inverted kite aerial image of an excavation taken with an earlier, lower resolution version of the Pentax WG10 that is now included in our Standard Kit.

3D version (8.34MB pdf) Ctrl+left mouse button to move image, left mouse button to rotate, wheel to zoom.

Excavation at Nesley Farm, Gloucestershire.

June 2011

Cade and John Wells with the prototype kite thermal imager.

September 2011