Aerial Archaeology and the RAF

We have another group to add to our long list of folks to thanks for their help with our archaeological project today!  The Royal Air Force provided us with low altitude aerial photographs of our site.  They did it for free and with an added bonus of drama as the British Army had to shut down their firing ranges for a half an hour while the RAF helicopter flew low over the sight.  Then because of landing site complications, the RAF helicopter landed on the firing ranges and returned our fancy digital camera to the waiting arms of Michael Brown.

The low altitude flight yielded absolutely amazing photographs of the two major sites in our archaeological area.  A number of the photographs of Vigla clearly show the fortification walls that we have been documenting over the last few weeks.

Vigla from the air

Vigla again.  Note the fortification line along the left side of the photo

And the views of Kokkinokremos will add a nice dramatic element to Michael Brown's dissertation and our final publication:

Kokkinokremos from the air (the area excavated in the early 1980s is in the center of the ridge)

It is rare that an American archaeologist has the chance to work with the RAF, but they deserve our thanks today!

Comments

[susancaraher]

Hi everyone,

The aerial photos are spectacular. And the Vigla wall is so prominent. Cheers to the RAF! And well done to Michael for successfully negotiating with them. I look forward to seeing more pictures. And what a shame the film maker (and I) had departed. The chopper would have made for great footage. I suppose you won't be needing me to hang-glide over the site next year?

[susancaraher]

Hi everyone,

The aerial photos are spectacular. And the Vigla wall is so prominent. Cheers to the RAF! And well done to Michael for successfully negotiating with them. I look forward to seeing more pictures. And what a shame the film maker (and I) had departed. The chopper would have made for great footage. I suppose you won't be needing me to hang-glide over the site next year?

[Brice Pearce]

Awesome, totally awesome...is there any cooler than photos of helicopters landing? Nice view of the Vigla wall, the pilot must rock. Good luck finishing up!