South Dorset Ridgeway NMP

The South Dorset Ridgeway NMP project comprises an archaeological survey of the South Dorset Ridgeway based on a review of all available aerial photographs and Environment Agency lidar derived imagery. It began in September 2008 and funded by the Historic Environment Enabling Programme (Project No. 5583) is being carried out by the Historic Environment Service of Cornwall County Council as part of English Heritage’s National Mapping Programme (NMP). Data resulting from the survey will be incorporated into the National Monuments Record and Dorset Historic Environment Record and will provide a valuable resource for Dorset AONB Partnership’s South Dorset Ridgeway Heritage Project which is running concurrently.

The main aim of the project is to define, characterise and analyse the historic environment of the South Dorset Ridgeway which will help to improve understanding and inform decisions regarding strategic planning, management and preservation of the historic environment. This will also assist with the implementation of the Dorset AONB Management Plan in the South Dorset Ridgeway area and with the formulation of wider research objectives and strategies for the South Dorset Ridgeway.

The project area contains extensive archaeological remains and has been likened to the Avebury and Stonehenge World Heritage Site in terms of its importance as a historic landscape. The landscape of the Dorset Downs consists of open mainly arable downland in amongst which are the earthwork remains of significant archaeological features such as are seen in the image of the Broadmayne barrow cemetery (right).

Off the Downs the lidar data has proven useful in the mapping of the extensive networks of water meadows such as are seen here just to the west of Dorchester (left). The data has proven very useful for accurately locating those features not visible on the Ordnance Survey base maps, but comparison with traditional aerial photographs has shown that they hold more information, especially for areas where the meadows have been removed or significantly reduced.

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 NMR English Heritage's public archive.

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.