Aerial archaeology in Britain - D. N. Riley

Aerial surveying is an important technique used in archaeology, providing a new perspective on large sites or features that are hidden at ground level. From an airplane, the bird's eye view can provide clues about ancient foundations buried beneath the surface by analyzing the soil color, growth of vegetation and even shadows cast by protruding objects or uneven ground. Many of the photographs taken during aerial observation reveal evidence of how our ancestors lived, and the photographs taken before World War II are particularly valuable as many historic sites were plowed through after the war. This book uses fascinating photographs to illustrate the ways in which buried sites can be viewed from the air, and detailed diagrams to explain how these artifacts change the appearance of the ground and how they can be mapped and interpreted. An extraordinary number of discoveries have been made and recorded by aerial archaeologists and the author uncovers the most influential and remarkable finds in this comprehensive introduction to a captivating subject.