Monday, April 29, 2013

Hadrian's Wall

How photographs can change history. From the BBC:
Hundreds of miles away from Hadrian's Wall, a man surfing the internet from the comfort of his home stumbled across something that astonished the professionals. Bryn Gethin's discovery on his computer in Warwickshire, was one of a number, based on aerial photography and imaging techniques, that are rewriting a whole era of Roman history. He spotted something while browsing old LIDAR (light detection and ranging) images, which show remains even if covered by trees or buildings. Experts say he had potentially discovered the camp of the men who actually built the wall that runs across the country from Tyneside to Cumbria. Surveyor Humphrey Welfare, currently investigating the site, said the camp would not have been seen without aerial images.

"It gives us another little insight, a little window into what happened during the construction of the wall," he said. "And that's how archaeology builds up, piece by piece."

It was known the wall supported civilian communities which provided goods and services in a local economy that benefitted both occupiers and natives. But it seems there were Iron Age settlements hundreds of years before the arrival of the Romans who, rather than being an aggressive conquering force, forged working relationships with the resident population. (Read entire article.)


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