10 a Critique of Northamptonshire's NMP Project
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MAPPING ANCIENT LANDSCAPES IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE 10 A critique of Northamptonshire’s NMP project by Glenn Foard and Alison Deegan This final chapter assesses the methodology some data entered into the SMR for all sites that evolved during the course of when the NMP project began in 1994. As a implementation of the National Mapping consequence, it is not easy, nor indeed Programme in Northamptonshire between useful, to quantify the results of the 1994 and 2001, and considers its impact on reconnaissance programme and the NMP data creation and subsequent data man- project in terms of the numbers of sites ipulation, interrogation and dissemination. identified through NMP that were new to It also compares some aspects of the NCC the SMR, a standard that is often used to approach with that employed for con- measure the contribution of many other temporary and subsequent NMP projects in NMP projects. However, the analyses and other areas, discussing the lessons that can results reported in the preceding chapters of be learned now that this large project has this volume provide a more effective been completed. This analysis draws heavily definition of the contribution of this project upon the Management Report for the than do simple statistics based on the Northamptonshire NMP Project, available previous shortcomings of the SMR. online from the Archaeology Data Services From the beginning the Northamp- (ADS) (http://ads. ahds.ac.uk), which tonshire NMP Project was conceived as a provides essential background information, wholly digital project, drawing upon explains in detail the development of the experience gained in GIS mapping of the methodology and documents the sources county’s historic environment since 1993, and timescale of the work. and exploiting the digital rectifications that had been retained from previous years of Data creation mapping using AERIAL. Although at that time it was NMP policy not to use or The direct acquisition of aerial photo- produce large-scale (1:2 500) mapping. graphic data through aerial reconnaissance, RCHME made an exception for the discussed in chapter 2, was integral to the Northamptonshire project because the NCC approach to aerial archaeology. From efficiency of the process could be the start of the intensive reconnaissance demonstrated, and, using a large-format programme in 1977, long before the computer plotter, the project was able to inception of the NMP project, NCC generate the high-quality hard copy quarter- employed a rolling programme of exam- sheet output then required by the RCHME ination, SMR record creation, rectification (Northamptonshire Heritage 1994, 21). (first manually and then, from the early An effective methodology and efficient 1980s, by computer, using Aerial software) implementation had been achieved through and reporting of the results of the NCC the NCC IT advisor’s careful choice of aerial reconnaissance programme (Foard leading GIS software (MapInfo) and their 1979a, 1980a, 1980b, 1981, 1982a, 1983; provision of ongoing high-quality specialist Deegan 2002, 19–20). This rolling support, largely by Phil Sydee. It was also a programme was intended both to enable the result of careful design of the data structure results to influence further reconnaissance to facilitate the intended objectives, building and also to be available for resource upon the principles of analysis of historic management purposes. Thus, the arch- environment data, initially developed in aeological data were quickly assimilated into 1979, which underpinned the design of the the SMR and, although the rectification was whole SMR and its associated GIS datasets unable to keep up with rate of new (Foard 1978). As far as practicable, this discovery, a considerable quantity of data methodology was further enhanced over the had already been interpreted, rectified and lifetime of the project. The use of MapInfo 156 A CRITIQUE OF NORTHAMPTONSHIRE’S NMP PROJECT Professional (versions 2.1–6.0) as a site, and the map object. For example the common platform for most aspects of data data entry for a single ring ditch has a creation and manipulation was critical. unique relationship with a single graphic Most internally-derived datasets were object in the map data. Although there are created or, if created in other software, some exceptions to this rule, these can be delivered in MapInfo. This included SMR easily be accounted for within any GIS point data, the index of air photographs, query. The result is that the data can be AERIAL transcriptions, base map data searched on any of the MORPH2.2 fields (including both modern OS Landline and and the results accurately quantified, and georeferenced OS First Edition 1:10 560 distributions analysed. It is worth noting mapping) and supplementary datasets such that GIS can automatically generate as the BGS geological mapping, contour accurate grid references from mapped data, land use mapping, and mineral plans, objects and, importantly, almost without all of which have been used in the analyses exception will actually be positioned on in the preceding chapters. Even the complex part of the object, which is preferable to the morphological data entered into the original practice of manual reading and input used RCHME MORPH2.2 database was by most current NMP projects. Detailed retrieved and linked to the relevant quantifications and distributions cannot be individual graphic objects in the MAPINFO automatically generated from the data tables. Each dataset was linked through produced by recent and current NMP consistent reference numbering to enable projects because the unique one-to-one automated concordance between different relationship was abandoned along with the datasets. This obviated many of the data MORPH2.2 database in favour of the migration problems that are still regularly National Monuments Record standard experiences by other NMP projects where database (currently known as AMIE). no common platform is employed. Moreover, although some morphological Analysis of the timescales of past and recording is still practised by some current present NMP projects suggests that the NMP project, because there is no link Northamptonshire approach was highly between the record and object it is not efficient. The average time spent on each possible to retrieve and display the map quarter sheet (5km ? 5km area) in the objects based on any morphological criteria. Northamptonshire project was 11.5 days Put simply, one cannot, for example, (Deegan 2002, table 9). The average times retrieve, count and display all the ring spent per sheet on a contemporary non- ditches that are less than 10m in diameter, digital project in Lincolnshire was more as is possible with the NCC NMP data. than 16.5 days (Kershaw 1997). More Such methods of data interrogation have recent digital projects with which one of the been fundamental to the analyses in the authors has been involved: Till-Tweed, preceding chapters, in particular the Lower Wharfedale, and Thornborough investigations into the distribution of Henges have taken on average 24, 21, and cropmark, soilmark and earthwork sites, 24 days respectively (Deegan 2003, 2004, and of the monuments of the Neolithic and 2005). Direct comparison between these Bronze Age. Although under the current projects is not possible: the Northamp- NMP methodology similar work could tonshire project did not record all ridge perhaps be repeated on smaller projects, it is and furrow features, and had the benefit unlikely that any other county-wide projects of access to existing plots. However, we could be tackled in this way. believe that the methodology and processes Another important aspect of the employed by the Northamptonshire project Northamptonshire NMP data is the were far simpler to apply and, most complete traceability of each mapped object importantly, to check, than the Auto back to the source photography. Mapping CAD-based strategy used by most current for each site is generated from one or more NMP projects. rectified plots or photographs, the information for which is stored in a separate Data interrogation GIS table (see Deegan 2002 for more information about the data structure). This One of the important principles of the not only allows users to easily return to the Northamptonshire NMP dataset is the one- original photographs, but is also an to-one relationship between the smallest important aspect of maintaining data recording unit, which is the MORPH2.2 standards, much like providing a full 157 MAPPING ANCIENT LANDSCAPES IN NORTHAMPTONSHIRE bibliographic reference for a cited work. furlongs. Others have attempted a more Other NMP projects have been slow to detailed approach: identifying and defining adopt this principle. The NMR record individual furlongs with a single arrow to only documents the best illustrative depict the direction of ploughing (for photographs for any site or group of example NMP projects for Lower sites, but more recent NMP projects Wharfedale, Till-Tweed, Thorn-borough have started to record the source Henges and the Magnesian Limestone in photograph within the tables attached to the South Yorkshire). The contribution of the AutoCAD drawing, although this is not latter approach has yet to be tested and yet a universal standard. may never be clear from these projects alone, given the relative infrequency of Project shortcomings surviving medieval open fields in these project areas. While recent NMP projects Some of the shortcomings to the North- have reported on medieval and post- amptonshire approach and its application medieval themes in their relative have been discussed in previous chapters, publications, these have tended to deal with but are worth re-iterating together here. specific monument types or activities, We have noted the effect that a lack of for example salt extraction, pillow mounds specialist knowledge has had on the NMP and township boundaries, rather than mapping of medieval, post-medieval and tackle more integrated themes like the modern military archaeology (see chapters 8 nature of settlement (Grady 1998; Harrison and 9). The use of historic and modern forthcoming; Horne forthcoming).