Fascinating Shropshire Archaeology Cropmarks Found During Aerial Survey Work in Summer 2018

Dry summer revealed historic and archaeological sites across Shropshire Archaeology

Last summer SAW the recording of a wide range of archaeological sites, including Bronze Age burial monuments, Iron Age farms and Roman ‘marching’ camps.

22 sites recorded during aerial surveys in 2018 have never been seen before, and significant new detail has been recorded at previously known archaeological sites.

This adds to aerial photography taken over the last 10 years, which has recorded a wide variety of archaeological sites, historic buildings and landscape features.

The imagery has been catalogued and recorded within the Council’s Historic Environment Record, to support the work of the team in ensuring the rich heritage of the county is effectively protected and managed by working constructively with farmers, land owners and developers.

The drought conditions of early summer 2018 put many crops under stress, with the result that buried archaeological remains rapidly became visible as ‘cropmarks’.

These are created when ditches buried below the ploughed soil cause the overlying crop to grow taller and ripen more slowly.

In addition, ‘parchmarks’ have developed where buried stonework causes stunted grass growth above archaeological features.

For more information about Shropshire Council’s Historic Environment Record, and the wide range of archaeological sites and features it records.

Visit the "Discovering Shropshire’s History" website.

Sites shown in video: Roman buildings at Wroxeter, an enclosure near Gobowen, a ditched enclosure near Much Wenlock, a Prisoner of War Camp near Oswestry, Ring ditches near Cound, a long pit alignment near Hodnet, features at a field near Whittington.
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