As part of the broader Witham Valley NMP project the opportunity was taken to access the lidar data of the area flown by the Environment Agency in 2001. The data was only standard 2m resolution rather than the higher 1m resolution acquired for the Stonehenge survey, but it was still considered a useful exercise to compare data sources. There were a number of technical issues that prevented the data being viewed in the most efficient way, but the project still produced some useful data.
Geomorphology
One of the first findings was that the lidar data produced very clear images of the geomorphology of the project area, particularly highlighting palaeochannels and earlier river courses. When processed the lidar data showed these so well that it was thought unnecessary to plot this data, but simply use the plots as background images.
New features
The lidar data also revealed evidence of a number of known features such as barrows and enclosures, but also provided suggestions of previously unrecorded sites. One of the most interesting of these was near Stixwould where evidence was found for a causeway that may relate to the priory.
A cautionary tale
The survey also reinforced the importance of using all readily available sources and not just relying on one or two as a site that had initially from the lidar data been thought to be a previously unknown Roman fort turned out to be the remains of the WWII airfield at Bardney.
Fuller details of the lidar survey can be found in Archaeological Prospection Volume 13, Issue 4, Pages 251-257.
The images used on this page are copyright English Heritage unless specified otherwise. For further details of any photographs or other images and for copies of these, or the plans and reports related to the project please contact the English Heritage Archive.
For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us by email via the link above.
