1996 RCAHMS Aerial Survey

Variable weather conditions throughout the year and across Scotland have produced a distinct pattern of discoveries during 1996. During 110 hours in the air up to September, a total of 1159 sites were recorded. For almost the whole of the first half of 1996 the relatively dull, cloudy, unsettled and cold weather restricted the extent of aerial reconnaissance in Scotland with only short periods in February and May providing the opportunity for work in areas of Scotland at some distance from Edinburgh. Sorties designed to take advantage of shadow effects were undertaken in Eastern Dumfriesshire. West Lothian, Peeblesshire, Stirlingshire, Western Perthshire, the north side of Loch Tay, Strathdon and valleys around Kingussie, with particular attention being directed to areas where survey was being undertaken by other sections of RCAHMS.

The poor weather of May, one of the coldest on record, did not provide an encouraging prelude to the main summer flying season. The development of crops was considerably retarded, and only with the advent of a warm spell in the third week in June did evidence of cropmark formation emerge. The majority of reconnaissance was carried out in the east of Scotland, reflecting the degree of the soil moisture deficit across the country. Useful results were obtained on Speyside and around the Moray Firth, including the discovery of a mortuary enclosure and new burial sites. Angus produced extensive areas of cropmarking, particularly in winter cereals. The clarity of the markings increased with proximity to the coast, which, in a limited area was quite remarkable, with additional information emerging from the fairways at Leuchars, a landscape which has probably been subject to more intensive reconnaissance than any other in Scotland. Lothian and Berwickshire were particularly fruitful with many new settlements and pit-alignments recorded as well as a cursiform monument near Berwick. Among the Roman sites which showed well this year was the Roman temporary camp at Milrighall. Although cropmarking in central Scotland lacked the clarity of that in the east, useful information emerged, such as the extension of the cursus near Crieff, reinforcing the distribution pattern of Neolithic ritual monuments in this area. The relative lack of information from western Scotland with its greater rainfall is the more to be regretted.

RCAHMS (DES 1996, 118, 121)