Essex NMP

The Essex NMP project was one of the first projects of the National Mapping Programme (NMP) carried out by external contractors. Begun in 1993 the mapping phase of the project was completed in February 2003 with the completion of the 190 sheets that cover the county. Since that date work has been underway analysing and synthesising the data to produce a report on the archaeology of Essex as seen from the air. The NMP project recorded remains from all periods of history and prehistory, but some of the most interesting finds have come from almost opposite ends of that time span.

Examination of ritual and burial monuments from the Neolithic and Bronze Age has revealed interesting patterns that shed light on a wider use of the landscape. At the other end of the time spectrum the NMP project included an examination of RAF photographs from during and immediately after WWII. These showed how important Essex had been during the war and what a large impact had been made by military activities. Although there are some documentary records of sites a lot were ephemeral and the wartime photographs are sometimes the only accurate record of what constructions were actually built, as opposed to what were planned.

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.