Surveying

Surveying: This technique has been an important part of the Hidden Heritage Project.

Walkover surveys have been used to look for and record new features in the landscape between Arrochar and Tarbet.
Geophysical surveys have been used to detect traces of manmade features that leave no signs on the surface
Plane table surveying has been used to produce accurate plans of particular structures, like the old sheep fank
Digital survey using highly accurate electronic equipment (electronic distance measuring device, EDM) has been used to plot the positions of all the old gravestones in Ballyhennan graveyard.

Walkover: S3 pupils from Hermitage Academy helped with the walkover survey at Creag an’t Searraich, which revealed the remains of two, or possibly three building-like structures, as well as an area of rig and furrow, a possible corn-drying kiln (or maybe just a hole left by some tree roots!), and lots of banks and ditches. Children from Arrochar and Luss Primary Schools will help to excavate this site in May.

Building Survey: Brian Wilkinson visited both the primary schools to show pupils from P4-7 how to do a basic survey of a building using simple equipment, and how to produce a scale drawing of their ‘discovery’. Brian also visited Lomond School and introduced them to the use of a plane table to draw accurate scale plans.

Zip-less Geophysics: Pupils from Arrochar Primary came to watch Cathy McIver from Northlight Heritage and some volunteers carrying out a geophysical survey of their school playing field. They helped to peg out the guidelines for the survey, and learnt that you can’t wear anything metal – not even zips! – when you’re using some of the geophysics equipment!

Graveyard Recording: S1 pupils from Hermitage Academy and S2 pupils from Lomond School helped to record some of the old gravestones in Ballyhennan graveyard. These date from the mid-1700s to the recent day, with one fascinating exception that may be as early as the late 1400s.