We begin the New Year with a new project devoted to archaeology.
Last year, Calton Hill Conservation Trust were fortunate to receive a Community Grant Fund award from the City of Edinburgh Council. Work begins this January with the help and participation of our friends at the Edinburgh branch of Headland Archaeology.
As we know, the hill is visited and enjoyed regularly both by local residents and thousands of international visitors throughout the year. It is likely that this prominent location in the landscape was similarly used by people in the past, though little is known about the ancient and earlier historic use of the hill that preceded the building of the prominent ‘Athens of the North’ 19th-century landmarks.
The project will focus on increasing awareness and interest in the archaeological potential of the landscape, building on previous successful community engagements relating to the geology, landscape and biodiversity of the hill.
Headland Archaeology are helping deliver the project, both for Trust members and the local community, to explore the heritage and archaeology of the hill through a series of events, which will highlight the current understanding of the history of the hill, explore the archaeological potential of the landscape, and develop an understanding around what is left to uncover about its history and archaeology.
We hope the project will increase our engagement with the heritage of the hill, while providing new and more detailed information. The first action will be an aerial photogrammetric survey* of the hill by Headland Archaeology on 15 January, to provide detailed and accurate data to supplement GIS (geographical information system) data obtained through our previous biodiversity project, including imagery and horizontal measurements taken remotely.
Following this, there be will public workshops on the history and archaeology of the hill, with an opportunity for people to get outside and physically interact with the hill and its historic landscape. The project will highlight archaeological skills, giving an insight into how archaeologists assess archaeological potential, and applying this process to Calton Hill.
On 31 January, there will be an off-site technical workshop on the photogrammetric survey will be delivered by Headland Archaeology’s Technical Services Manager and Community Archaeologist. This will detail the process used for the survey, as well as allowing participants to examine the results to consider any insights gained from the data.
On 7 February, a walk and talk will be hosted by Headland Archaeology’s Community Archaeologist. Participants will explore the archaeological potential of the landscape through an exploration of the known history of Calton Hill and its relationship to the history and archaeology of wider Edinburgh. They will be introduced to some of the skills archaeologists use to assess the archaeological potential of a site, involving background research, and using the Scottish archaeological research frameworks, which detail what we already know about archaeological periods and areas in Scotland and highlight areas and questions still yet to answer.
This workshop will also explore map regression, whereby archaeologists look at different historic maps chronologically to search for records of any buildings or features that were once recorded and might no longer be visible, and detail recent archaeological work undertaken on Calton Hill.
On 21 February, there will be a following on-site workshop will explore archaeological walk-over survey techniques and allow participants to practice these skills and how to record any findings. Participants will have the opportunity to see how these skills might be applied to Calton Hill to understand its archaeological potential. Through the exploration of the known history and archaeology of the hill and the surrounding landscape and by learning about how archaeologists assess archaeological potential and applying some of these techniques, participants will be able to build up an understanding of the archaeology of Calton Hill.
On 28 February, a final workshop will build on the information derived from the photogrammetric survey and each of the workshops to make a summary of the archaeological potential as well as an outline scope for further research on the archaeology of Calton Hill. This will include exploring how archaeologists use regional research frameworks and develop written schemes of investigation.
Finally, Headland Archaeology will conduct an evaluation to judge the impact of the project and to consider how further archaeology focussed projects might be received by members and the local community.
Schedule of events:
1. Saturday 31 January 10.00 at Headland Archaeology, 13 Jane Street, Edinburgh, EH6 5HE, workshop on photogrammetric survey results, led by Katie Hutton, Headland Archaeology’s Technical Services Manager and Jessica, Headland Archaeology’s Community Archaeologist. (This event is limited to 15 participants.)
2. Saturday 7 February 10.00, walk and talk on Calton Hill’s archaeology led by Jessica Lowther, Headland Archaeology, starting at the Portuguese Cannon.
3. Saturday 21 February 10.00, on-site workshop to explore archaeological walk-over survey techniques and record any findings, led by Jessica Lowther, Headland Archaeology, starting at the Portuguese Cannon.
4. Saturday 28 February 10.00 at Headland Archaeology, 13 Jane Street, Edinburgh, EH6 5HE, final workshop to summarize the results of the photogrammetry and the workshops to assess the archaeological potential and possibilities for further research. (This event is limited to 15 participants.)
Eventbrite link for registering: <bit.ly/49m1Bdx>. Information <info@caltonhilltrust.org>.
*Photogrammetry is the process of capturing many overlapping photographs of the desired target, this can range from a small artifact to a large landscape. These photographs are then processed using specialist software to produce a fully textured 3D model. From this data videos and ortho-images (scaled images with no distortion or perspective) are generated for further analysis. For small objects handheld cameras are used, but for landscapes such as Calton Hill aerial photography is the preferred method, rapidly capturing a large area using a drone.
