Phase One of the Hidden Lives Project fieldwork involved a systematic walkover survey of the archaeological sites and monuments of the parish. A team of archaeologists and local volunteers visited hundreds of archaeological sites, verifying their location using GPS and carrying out written descriptions and sketch plans. Digital photographs of each site were taken, and a digital database built on PDA computers and uploaded daily to the project database.
This stage of the project, creating an accurate map of the archaeological remains of Assynt in conjunction with detailed description and photography, provides the foundations for the detailed survey stages of the project and a solid grounding for later programmes of archaeological work.
AOC archaeologists led the field programme, training volunteers in
techniques of archaeological survey and interpretation.
Map of part of the survey area, around Knockan
Reproduced from the Ordnance Survey 1:50000 scale map with the permission of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Officer. Crown copyright. AOC Archaeology Group, Edgefield Industrial Estate, Loanhead Midlothian, EH20 9SY. OS Licence no. 100023757
GPS survey and planning
© AOC Archaeology Group.
Archaeological Topographic Surveys: Phase 2
Phase 2 of the Assynt Hidden Lives Project took place in January
and February 2010.
Having completed our inspection surveys of the sites of the parish in
December, we will returned to carry out detailed measured and
descriptive surveys of a range of the most representative and best
preserved monuments and buildings.
We put a wide range of survey techniques into effect,
ranging from plane table survey and hand drawn plans to topographic
contour surveys using differential GPS and total stations, as well as
3D laser scans of the most interesting buildings. AOC staff supervised
volunteers and gave training in all of these techniques,
as well as in the skills necessary to interpret field archaeology and
buildings, and write systematic descriptive records.
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