Patterns in archaelogical monument loss in East Central Scotland since 1850
The Monuments at Risk Survey 1995 (MARS) outlined rates and causes of identified monument loss in England, showing that 16% of recorded monuments had been completely destroyed by 1995, and that 95% of surviving monuments in England had suffered partial destruction. Hitherto, no equivalent research has been undertaken in Scotland. Using a 17% random stratified sample of 779 field monuments surviving in 1850 within a study area encompassing much of the local authority areas of Perth and Kinross, Fife and Angus, the present research has analysed the distribution and quantified loss of archaeological monuments since 1850 in relation to a number of variables including land use, Land Capability for Agriculture, elevation, local authority area, monument period and material construction. Results show that monument distribution within the study area varies most noticeably according to land use and elevation. The highest densities of extant monuments are found in semi-natural woodland (17.2 extant sample monuments per 100km2) and non-intensive land uses such as unimproved grazing and moorland (13.8 extant sample monuments per 100km2). The lowest density of extant monuments is found in arable and improved pasture (4.5
Burke, Andrew Douglas Pinkerton
Environmental archaeology Scotland ; Historic buildings Scotland ; Historic sites Scotland ; Monuments Conservation and preservation Scotland
Patterns in archaelogical monument loss in East Central Scotland since 1850. The Monuments at Risk Survey 1995 (MARS) outlined rates and causes of identified monument loss in England, showing that 16% of recorded monuments had been completely destroyed by 1995, and that 95% of surviving monuments in England had suffered partial destruction. Hitherto, no equivalent research has been undertaken in Scotland. Using a 17% random stratified sample of 779 field monuments surviving in 1850 within a study area encompassing much of the local authority areas of Perth and Kinross, Fife and Angus, the present research has analysed the distribution and quantified loss of archaeological monuments since 1850 in relation to a number of variables including land use, Land Capability for Agriculture, elevation, local authority area, monument period and material construction. Results show that monument distribution within the study area varies most noticeably according to land use and elevation. The highest densities of extant monuments are found in semi-natural woodland (17.2 extant sample monuments per 100km2) and non-intensive land uses such as unimproved grazing and moorland (13.8 extant sample monuments per 100km2). The lowest density of extant monuments is found in arable and improved pasture (4.5
patterns monument loss east_central scotland since monuments risk survey outline rate cause identified monument loss england show record monument completely destroyed survive monument england suffer partial destruction hitherto equivalent undertaken scotland using random stratify sample field monument survive within study_area encompass much local_authority area perth fife present analyse distribution quantify loss archaeological_monument since relation number_variable include land_use land capability agriculture elevation local_authority area monument period material construction show monument distribution within study_area varies noticeably accord land_use elevation high density extant monument find semi natural woodland extant sample monument per non intensive land_use extant sample monument per low density extant monument find arable improved pasture