Interpreting the Landscape from the Air

by Mick Aston

Aerial photography can give the archaeologist unique information about the development of a particular landscape over the centuries. Since the inception of Channel 4's Time Team, Mick Aston has been taking thousands of aerial photographs and a selection of these form the basis of the present book. After a brief introduction to the history of aerial photography and to its main features (cropmarks, parchmarks, earthworks, soil marks, patterns), he uses 25 case studies both to cover the full chronological span, from prehistory and Roman times to the Middle Ages and on to Industrial Britain, and to illustrate the central themes of settlement, land use, communications, ritual and religious sites, military and defense sites, and industrial landscapes.

Genres: Archaeology

Paperback

First published November 1, 2002

About the author

Michael Aston was an English archaeologist whose work helped establish landscape archaeology as an important field of study in Britain. He specialized in Early Medieval archaeology and became known for examining how settlements and other archaeological features developed within their wider landscapes. He studied geography with archaeology as a subsidiary subject at the University of Birmingham, while gaining practical experience through archaeological excavations. In 1970, he began working as a field officer for the Oxford City and County Museum, where he contributed to the sites and monuments record and taught extramural archaeology classes. He also presented a radio series on archaeology for Radio Oxford, beginning a lifelong commitment to making the subject accessible beyond universities. In 1974, Aston became the first County Archaeologist for Somerset. There he established a new archaeological site record, supervised excavations connected with the construction of the M5 motorway, and developed a strong interest in aerial archaeology. Together with Trevor Rowley, he helped introduce the term "landscape archaeology" through Landscape Archaeology (1974). The Landscape of Towns (1976), co-written with James Bond, extended this approach to urban environments. Aston was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London in recognition of his contribution to archaeology. He later taught at the University of Oxford and the University of Bristol, organizing courses that introduced thousands of people to archaeology. He also led archaeological study tours in Greece and published Interpreting the Landscape (1985). Aston became widely known through his collaboration with television producer Tim Taylor. Their first project was Time Signs, followed by Time Team, which premiered on Channel 4 in 1994. Aston selected archaeological sites for excavation and assembled specialist teams for the program, while serving as its principal archaeological adviser. His distinctive appearance and approachable manner made him one of the most recognizable archaeologists on British television. He viewed Time Team as an extension of his adult education work, allowing him to bring archaeology to a much larger audience. In 1996, Aston became Professor of Landscape Archaeology at the University of Bristol. He also led a ten-year investigation of the medieval manor at Shapwick in Somerset, a project that resulted in The Shapwick Project, Somerset: A Rural Landscape Explored (2007), co-written with Chris Gerrard, followed by Interpreting the English Village (2013). His books for general readers included Mick's Archaeology and Archaeology is Rubbish: A Beginner's Guide, co-written with Tony Robinson. He retired from the University of Bristol in 2004 and became Professor Emeritus, while continuing his archaeological work through writing and television. From 2006, he contributed a regular column, "Mick's Travels", to British Archaeology magazine. Aston left Time Team in 2012 after objecting to changes that he believed reduced its archaeological content. He received a lifetime achievement award at the British Archaeological Awards in recognition of his contribution to public archaeology. His academic work, teaching, books, and television appearances helped make archaeology more accessible to a broad British audience. Colleagues regarded his ability to communicate complex archaeological ideas in an engaging way as a significant part of his contribution to the discipline.

Reviews

[Iain · Rating 3 out of 5]

A solid, though not stellar, look at British archaeology from the air. It would benefit from larger, even full page photos and more on-photo annotations, particularly when discussing details of towns/cities. Like many books of this sort, the text is often discussing pictures on another page, resulting in much page turning.