NMP Background

Background to the National Mapping Programme (NMP)

Projects undertaken by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England (RCHME) in the 1980's in the Yorkshire Wolds (cropmarks) and on Dartmoor (earthworks) showed the great potential of archaeological survey from aerial photographs. NMP pilot projects in Kent, Hertfordshire, Thames Valley and Yorkshire Dales followed and helped to codify a standard methodolgy and working practices. Full NMP projects began in the 1990s being carried out both by internal staff at the RCHME and by staff in county councils around the country. The programme has since gone from strength to strength and by July 2006 some 33.4% of the country had been covered. There are currently seven projects running at the mapping stage, with a further seven for which mapping has finished, but for which the analysis and reports are at various stages of completion. Further details of these can be found under the individual projects which can be accessed from the regional pages.

Millions of aerial photographs of England, mainly taken since 1945, are available for study. The map to the left shows the distribution of aerial photographs taken specifically for archaeological purposes and held in the National Monuments Record. Most of the information contained in these photographs is not represented in local or national records; experienced archaeological air-photo interpreters working on the National Mapping Programme, produce a synthesis to make the archaeological data accessible to a wider audience.

For further details of NMP or for information on any other aspects of the work of the Aerial Survey team contact: Aerial Survey