Aerial archaeology is the study of archaeological remains by examining them from altitude.

The advantages of gaining a good aerial view of the ground had been long appreciated by archaeologists as a high viewpoint permits a better appreciation of fine details and their relationships within the wider site context. Early investigators attempted to gain birdseye views of sites using hot air balloons, scaffolds or cameras attached to kites. Following the invention of the aeroplane and the military importance placed on aerial photography during the First and Second World Wars, archaeologists were able to more effectively use the technique to discover and record archaeological sites. Archaeology or sometimes in American English archeology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains, including architecture, artefacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ... This article refers to the tool of travel. ... The Georgian terrace of Royal Crescent (Bath, England) from a hot air balloon Dulles Airport in Reston, Virginia, from an airplane Aerial photography is the taking of photographs from above with a camera mounted on an aircraft, balloon, rocket, kite, skydiver or similar vehicle. ... Combatants Allies: Serbia, Russia, France, Romania, Belgium, British Empire, United States, Italy, and others Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Bulgaria, Ottoman Empire Casualties Military dead:5 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:8 million Military dead:4 million Civilian dead:3 million Total dead:7 million The First World... Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ...

Normally the photographs are taken vertically that is, from directly overhead, or obliquely, meaning that they are taken at an angle. In order to provide a three-dimensional effect, an additional, slightly offset, photo may be taken to provide two images with can be viewed stereoscopically. Stereo card view of Manhattan, c. ...

The advantages of an aerial photographs to archaeologists are manifold.

Large sites could for the first time be viewed accurately, in their entirety and within their landscape. This aided the production of drawn plans and also inspired archaeologists to look beyond the discrete monument and to appreciate a site's role within its setting. Photos are taken vertically for the purposes of planning and spatial analysis and obliquely to emphasize certain features or give perspective. Through the process of photogrammetry, vertical photos can be converted into scaled plans. The Taj Mahal in Agra (Uttar Pradesh, India) Monuments are usually created for the dual function of commemorating an important event or person while also creating an artistic object that will improve the appearance of a city or location. ... Photogrammetry is a measurement technology in which the three-dimensional coordinates of points on an object are determined by measurements made in two or more photographic images taken from different positions (see stereoscopy). ...

Archaeological features may also be more visible from the air than on the ground. Tiny differences in ground conditions caused by buried features can be emphasised by a number of factors and then viewed from the air:

• Slight differences in ground levels will cast shadows when the sun is low and these can be seen best from an aeroplane. These are referred to as shadow marks.
• Buried ditches will hold more water and buried walls will hold less water than undisturbed ground, this phenomenon, amongst others, causes crops to grow better or worse, taller or shorter, over each kind of ground and therefore define buried features and cast shadows. Such effects are called cropmarks.
• Frost can also appear in winter on ploughed fields where water has naturally accumulated along the lines of buried features. These are known as frostmarks.
• Slight differences in soil colour between natural deposits and archaeological ones can also often show in ploughed fields as soilmarks
• Differences in levels and buried features will also affect the way surface water behaves across a site and can produce a striking effect after heavy rain.

Pioneers of aerial archaeology include Roger Agache in Northern France, Antoine Poidebard in Syria and O. G. S. Crawford in England. Shadow marks are a form of archaeological feature visible from the air. ... Cropmarks or Crop marks are a means through which archaeological features may be visible from the air. ... Osbert Guy Stanhope Crawford (28 October 1886–November 28, 1957) was an English archaeologist and a pioneer in the use of aerial photographs for deepening archaeological understanding of the landscape. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the United Kingdom (light green), with the Republic of Ireland (blue) to its west Languages None official English de facto Capital None official London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked...

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Aerial archaeology

• Aerial Archaeology - was founded by R. Joe Brandon and is supported by the archaeology jobs service Shovelbums and the Shovel Bums [archaeology gear store]. AerialArchaeology.com focuses heavily on near earth imaging technologies such as Kite Aerial Photography, R/C powered parachutes, balloons, and model airplanes and helicopters.