1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey

While the weather during the summer of 1999 was better than that of the previous year, there was no major improvement in the quality and frequency of cropmarking in Scotland. The wet weather of May and June provided conditions which were not conducive to the creation of crop stress, impeding the formation of cropmarks. It is unusual for two successive years to have such a similar weather pattern, and the pattern of recording was also similar to that of the previous year. During the period between 1 November 1998 and 30 September 1999, some 780 sites were recorded during 108 hours in the air.

The latter part of 1998 yielded the appropriate conditions for only one flight for the detection of slight earthworks under low light, and this was directed at the Angus Glens, in support of RCAHMS Afforestable Land Survey project in this area, which has surveyed many previously unrecorded earthwork sites. This was followed up with further flights in the new year. Subsequent work along the low hills to the south of the glens on the north side of Strathmore, with the ground covered in light snow, was equally productive, revealing, among many other sites, four buildings of Pitcarmick type, perhaps belonging to the later first millennium AD. Gleneagles and the northern part of the Ochils, another ALS area, formed the subject of other flights designed to exploit the effects of low sunlight on surviving earthworks, relating, for the most part, to post-medieval sheep farming. Small areas of surviving pre-improvement landscape in the survey area of Strath Don formed another strand in the aerial programme. Further recording in Holyrood Park was carried out in preparation for the broadsheet on the upstanding monuments, which was published in advance of the joint meeting of the Societies of Antiquaries of Scotland and London at the beginning of May. The area of the proposed National Park around Loch Lomond was the subject of survey at different times of the year, covering the different types of land-use found there.

Other projects which were continued from the previous year included religious sites photographed in connection with the exhibition, 'World of Worship', the RCAHMS contribution to the celebration of the Millennium, which will go on tour throughout Scotland. There was further coverage of World War II sites associated with the Defence of Britain Project. Recording of the progress of the development of the new Parliament was maintained, and the opportunity was taken to photograph the many large-scale buildings in central Edinburgh which have recently been completed. The closure of many woollen mills in the Scottish Borders led to their recording from the air.

While the weather conditions with regard to aerial survey in July and August were not as poor as those of 1998, they were very changeable and so unsuitable for more extended flights. Few cropmarks appeared and they were virtually restricted to eastern areas of Scotland. Although there was little of a spectacular nature discovered, summer aerial survey has improved the coverage of settlement, particularly in eastern Perthshire, East Lothian and Berwickshire.