Pathways through the Avebury landscape A study of spatial relationships associated with the Beckhampton Avenue, Avebury, Wilts Paul Cripps, English Heritage Centre for Archaeology

Introduction - the Avebury landscape Monumental complex developed by Later Neolithic. Many monuments in the landscape: the Henge, Silbury Hill, the West Kennet and Beckhampton Avenues, the Sanctuary to name but a few. The multiple entrance henge and avenues may be related to movement…?

Monumental complex developed by Later Neolithic.

Many monuments in the landscape: the Henge, Silbury Hill, the West Kennet and Beckhampton Avenues, the Sanctuary to name but a few.

The multiple entrance henge and avenues may be related to movement…?

Introduction - The Beckhampton Avenue The focus for the investigation. Rediscovered in 2000 (Gillings et al.) The Longstones shown to be part of a Cove (ibid.) Also an earlier enclosure.

The focus for the investigation.

Rediscovered in 2000 (Gillings et al.)

The Longstones shown to be part of a Cove (ibid.)

Also an earlier enclosure.

Dynamic and static spatial relationships Dynamic relationships are those constantly formed and broken as an observer moves around the landscape. Static relationships are those inherent in the landscape. These will be investigated using the concept of visibility.

Dynamic relationships are those constantly formed and broken as an observer moves around the landscape.

Static relationships are those inherent in the landscape.

These will be investigated using the concept of visibility.

Introduction - the right tools for the job The analytical viewshed capabilities of GIS. Visualisations using three-dimensional reconstruction. Analysis and presentation using dynamic media.

The analytical viewshed capabilities of GIS.

Visualisations using three-dimensional reconstruction.

Analysis and presentation using dynamic media.

Technical part I Enhanced contour data used to produce DEM in GRASS. Viewsheds calculated using customized Avenue script in ArcView. Viewshed parameters output to text file and converted to VRML camera parameters. Building the GIS

Enhanced contour data used to produce DEM in GRASS.

Viewsheds calculated using customized Avenue script in ArcView.

Viewshed parameters output to text file and converted to VRML camera parameters.

Technical part II GRASS DEM output as ASCII raster. Converted to VRML TIN. Validated, cleaned & split using Chisel. Decimated using 3DS Max and exported as dxf. Georeferenced in three-dimensions using AutoCad. Building the reconstruction: the land-surface

GRASS DEM output as ASCII raster.

Converted to VRML TIN.

Validated, cleaned & split using Chisel.

Decimated using 3DS Max and exported as dxf.

Georeferenced in three-dimensions using AutoCad.

Technical part III Sources included CAD files of archaeological features, modern and historic OS maps, excavation plans, modern and antiquarian written references. Wireframe megaliths. Solid barrows and earthworks. Assembled using 3DS Max: megaliths placed onto land-surface, solids conformed to land-surface. Building the reconstruction: the archaeology

Sources included CAD files of archaeological features, modern and historic OS maps, excavation plans, modern and antiquarian written references.

Wireframe megaliths.

Solid barrows and earthworks.

Assembled using 3DS Max: megaliths placed onto land-surface, solids conformed to land-surface.

Aerial view of the reconstruction

Technical part IV Aim: a dynamic two-way link. Java program used to take input from GIS and control camera nodes in VRML world and vice versa. Result: a manual one-way link. Output from GIS converted and used to set up cameras manually. Unfortunately, being the lowest priority, this aspect of the project was not completed. Linking the two applications

Aim: a dynamic two-way link.

Java program used to take input from GIS and control camera nodes in VRML world and vice versa.

Result: a manual one-way link.

Output from GIS converted and used to set up cameras manually.

Unfortunately, being the lowest priority, this aspect of the project was not completed.

Moving and experiencing I Viewsheds calculated along hypothesised paths. Views generated using the same parameters, passed between applications.

Viewsheds calculated along hypothesised paths.

Views generated using the same parameters, passed between applications.

Moving and experiencing II Cumulative viewshed analysis along hypothesised paths. Areas of high frequency are particularly visible from hypothesised path.

Cumulative viewshed analysis along hypothesised paths.

Areas of high frequency are particularly visible from hypothesised path.

Other observations from improbable angles Alignment of the Cove with Silbury Hill, observed in CAD plan, elucidated using the reconstruction.

Alignment of the Cove with Silbury Hill, observed in CAD plan, elucidated using the reconstruction.

Future work Improved data sources: higher resolution DTM (from LiDAR?) Environmental data Enhanced visibility analysis: three-dimensional raycasting and/or probablistic approaches. Tighter integration between applications. Investigate other prehistoric landscapes.

Improved data sources: higher resolution DTM (from LiDAR?)

Environmental data

Enhanced visibility analysis: three-dimensional raycasting and/or probablistic approaches.

Tighter integration between applications.

Investigate other prehistoric landscapes.

For more information, please see: Thanks to Dave Alexander, Alistair Carty, Graeme Earl, Mark Gillings, Pete Glastonbury , Tom Goskar, Becky Poole, Anton Prowse, and Dave Wheatley.Thanks also to NERC, the funding body for my MSc, and English Heritage, my current employer.