Priority 1: GIS-powered regional Historic Environment Records (HERs) and national datasets present a powerful research tool with new data management and visualisation software indicating that an even greater potential exists. Enhancement of database records and their terminology is an important priority for realising this potential and therefore help to address a range of research questions relating to the Iron Age.
Priority 2: The increased availability of remotely sensed data presents challenges and opportunities. In unimproved and semi-improved ground availability of LiDAR (ALS – Airborne Laser Scanning) data is likely to stimulate a significant change in the detection and interpretations of earthwork remains (Cowley et al 2020). While multi- and hyperspectral imaging may help to extend the windows for detection of buried sites through crop proxies (Moriarty et al 2018). The development of AI and Machine learning enabled detection of archaeological features in remote sensed data is promising and offers a means to explore the proliferating datasets. For the Iron Age in particular, such approaches can enhance our understanding of the period’s diverse settlement forms and should be a key focus for any new survey programmes undertaken.
Research Questions
PKARF Qu 5.59: To what extent can taphonomic and environmental context biases in the types and frequencies of settlement forms be controlled using HER and national datasets?
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PKARF Qu 5.60: How could the refinement of Iron Age settlement nomenclature used in datasets improve our understanding of the region’s roundhouse architectural tradition?
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PKARF Qu 5.61: How can HER and national dataset enhancement and analysis assist with clarifying the region’s Iron Age settlement distribution picture?
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PKARF Qu 5.62: To what extent can Iron Age settlement activity currently recorded as hut circle or roundhouse types be better quantified across the extant resource using existing excavation data?
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PKARF Qu 5.63: How can HER software functions and data enhancement be used to better represent periods and phases of use/disuse at palimpsest sites such as forts and crannogs?
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PKARF Qu 5.64: How can Iron Age burial evidence be better represented within HER records?
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PKARF Qu 5.65: How can a wider application of non-intrusive survey techniques such as LiDAR, including the interpretation of existing data, assist with reassessing existing Iron Age and Roman sites as well as identifying new ones?
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PKARF Qu 5.66: What can the application of a broader palette of scientific techniques add to our understanding of the region’s Iron Age and Roman presence?
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PKARF Qu 5.67: How can the Roman influence on the landscape in the short term and in the longer term better be assessed and integrated with the wider evidence for the Iron Age?
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