Capability statement: Geomatics and survey
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Clients: Crest Nicholson (South East) Ltd
Author: Kieron Tyler
Site supervisor: Kieron Tyler
MoLAS was commissioned to record a group of standing structures relating to the former use of the site as a chalk quarry. Two large 19th-century lime kilns also survived. The site was located north of Canterbury Road, south-east of Faversham in Swale Borough. The investigation took place in May 2004.
The fieldwork was undertaken by MoLAS in association with Plowman Craven Associates, using a combination of photography and digital survey with a Cyrax 2500 scanner. Use of the Cyrax scanner meant the survey could be conducted in a much shorter time (in this case, a total of 2 days as against 4–6 days per structure using reflectorless EDM), which was of particular importance to the client.
The Cyrax produced a comprehensive three-dimensional scanned survey, with millimetric levels of accuracy, which was then used to produce plots for the detailed analysis of each elevation and/or structural component. The scanning produced a primary record as a ‘point cloud’, a collection of thousands of discrete points representing the surface of the structures, which was subsequently ‘clad’ for use in further visualisations..
The chalk pit is recorded from 1795 although it was mainly developed after 1838. The quarry expanded massively during the second half of the 19th century, and the first limekiln — a linked pair — is known at the site from 1864. The second limekiln was constructed by 1898.
This project represented the first time that a historic lime-working site has been recorded in such a way, as well as the first time that a Cyrax scanner had been used by MoLAS in archaeological fieldwork following a local authority planning condition. The comprehensive and accurate digital survey of the site produced detailed drawings of the structures and their component elements, including isometric reconstruction drawings.
For more information on our association with Plowman Craven and the uses of Cyrax scanning see here
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Clients: Torbay Council
Author: Chris Thomas
Site supervisor: David Saxby
Works in 2004 at Torre Abbey for Torbay Council were undertaken to provide a mitigation strategy for the main Heritage Lottery funded scheme to renovate the museum there, which is due to commence in summer 2005. The west and south ranges of the Premonstratensian abbey survive, although much altered in the 16th–20th centuries when they were the residence of the Cary family. The church and east range survive only as ruins.
The client and English Heritage identified a number of areas where excavation or demolition might affect areas of the abbey with unknown significance and ‘opening-up’ works have been carried out in all these areas. Parts of the above-ground structure include the east wall of the west range (the abbot's hall and parlour) where the outline of two cloister roofs and a number of windows have been identified, two late 16th-century staircases that possibly led up to a main staircase where the boiler room now lies and parts of the altar to the late 18th-century chapel.
MoLAS Geomatics were employed to carry out a full two-dimensional survey of the abbey and its grounds, both as an aid to the archaeological and survey works, and as a long-term landscape management tool. The survey located the exterior plan of all the buildings plus all the ruins as well as paths, boundary walls and other major features.
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Clients: Service Départemental d'Archéologie du Calvados
Authors: Joe Severn (MoLAS) and Duncan Lees(Plowman Craven Associates)
During September 2004, MoLAS and Plowman Craven Associates (PCA) undertook the three-dimensional recording of the 11th-century gatehouse at Chateau Ganne, Pommeraye, in the heart of ‘La Suisse Normande’, 35km to the south of Caen, France. This fortification, atypical in Normandy, has parallels in Exeter Castle and the hall of Chepstow Castle. The Service Départemental d'Archéologie du Calvados (SDAC) required the full suite of three-dimensional deliverables, including a three-dimensional model, true orthophotos and line work 1:20 elevations and cross-sections. PCA used a combination of laser scanning and photogrammetric photography to accurately and efficiently record the extant masonry remains. Added value for the client in the form of 360° panoramic photography was also provided. The non-contact nature of the recording techniques was an important factor in the work as a number of Health and Safety concerns were engendered by the perilous state of much of the remains. The survey work will inform and direct much of the restoration work that is planned for the monument prior to its opening to the general public. The complete data set is a powerful and metrically accurate visualisation tool that allows the SDAC to clearly identify and isolate the areas of the monument for which remedial action is paramount.
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Clients: The McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research
Author: Joe Severn
During late 2003 MoLAS Geomatics and Plowman Craven Associates carried out a metric survey of a Neolithic burial mound at Prissé-la-Charrière in central France, which was being excavated by the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, a privately funded research organisation based in Cambridge.
During 2004 we returned to record the passage grave situated within the centre of the mound. The burial chamber used corbelled limestone blocks held in place by a large capstone roof, within which could be seen several pieces of human bone and one complete ceramic vessel. The rear wall of this chamber had partially collapsed, rendering it potentially very unsafe, and laser scanning was selected as being a both safe and efficient technique to use.
Laser scanning is a relatively recent survey technique hitherto under-used within the heritage industry. It is able to provide an accurate three-dimensional point in time record of complex surfaces very quickly and without disturbing the object/structure to be recorded. MoLAS have a partnering arrangement with Plowman Craven Associates (PCA), an internationally renowned survey company, and the most experienced in the UK in the use of this technique. The exercise was successfully completed over three days in March of this year. MoLAS/PCA have subsequently been requested to carry out similar scans in passage graves within the tumuli of Barnenez and of St Michel, both in Brittany.
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Clients: Archaeological Development Services (Europe) Ltd
Author: Dave Mackie
MoLAS Geomatics travelled to Drogheda (north of Dublin, in Co Louth) to take archaeomagnetic samples from medieval pottery kilns (thought to be c 12th–13th century) located on the Old Mart site in the town. The archaeological excavation being carried out by Archaeological Development Services (Europe) Ltd had revealed three kilns and associated areas of medieval pitting. During the visit to the site, two MoLAS geomaticians sampled the two best-preserved kilns, which involved the recovery of well-fired areas of the feature by attaching plastic sample disks to them and careful lifting. Before removal, the sample disks were levelled and then marked to indicate the orientation of the sample in relation to true north (true north being determined using a theodolite-mounted gyro-compass). These measures provided the necessary controls required during their processing phase when the ‘fossilised’ indication of magnetic north contained in the sample since its last firing is measured. One of these kilns still contained wasters from the final firing, sitting on top of the central pedestal area and surviving kiln bars. The recorded samples were then processed by Mark Noel of Geoquest.
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