National Mapping Programme (NMP)

NMP project areas The National Mapping Programme (NMP) aims to enhance our understanding about past human activity by unlocking the information held in the extensive aerial photographic archives available in England.

The National Mapping Programme provides primary information and synthesis for archaeological sites and landscapes of all periods from the Neolithic to the twentieth century. Priority is given to those areas that are under the greatest threat or are poorly understood. The National Mapping Programme projects that have already been completed have transformed our knowledge of past land-use by mapping whole archaeological landscapes for the first time, with more than 50% of the sites not having been previously recorded.

The map to the right shows those areas of the country for which mapping has been carried out under the NMP (red), or where work is currently underway (blue). For a full list of NMP projects in a given area together with details of all our other work return to the regional map. Alternatively find out more details of the National Mapping Programme, how it developed and the techniques used or contact Aerial Survey for further information.

Some thematic areas covered by NMP

Archaeology and Extraction
English Heritage, through the Aggregates Levy Sustainability Fund (ALSF), has commissioned a number of projects to carry out archaeological aerial surveys in areas affected by the aggregates industry. To ensure a national consistency in the data each project uses National Mapping Programme (NMP) methodology.
Archaeology and the Coast
The coast is a very dynamic environment with erosion and deposition causing significant changes and providing a serious threat to archaeological remains. English Heritage has commissioned a number of projects in the coastal zone to help assess the level of current archaeological survival and hence mitigate future changes.

For further information on a project or any other aspect of the work of the Aerial Survey team please contact us at: AerialSurvey@english-heritage.org.uk.

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