TheParagon

LiDAR translates into terrain maps for archaeological fieldwork. The image shows the full process: laser pulses emitted from a drone, interacting with trees and terrain and generating a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) that reveals subtle features like mounds, ditches and ancient roads. Bridging with the ceremonial theme it can be described as:

Sky-Mapping 'Memory': The drone hovers like a witness above the land, translating light into layered understanding of the terrain.

Laser of 'Listening': Vertical shafts of red light reach downward, not to pierce but to perceive.

Terrain 'Whisperer': The elevation model at the base echoes the contours of buried stories, mounds, ditches, forgotten and paths.

Personal safety in archaeological and metal detecting fieldwork is essential, not just for legal compliance, but for ethical custodianship of both people and place. Whether you're excavating a trench or sweeping a field with a detector, the risks are real and the responsibilities shared.

Site Hazards
Trenches: Risk of collapse, especially in sandy or rubble-filled sections. Shoring may be needed even at shallow depths. Always assess trench stability before entering.

Spoil Heaps: Should be kept well away from trench edges to prevent collapse or injury.

Machinery & Tools: Be alert around moving equipment, loose ladders and barrow runs. Improper use of tools like pickaxes or shovels can cause serious injury.

Underground Hazards: Watch for cables, pipes, glass, barbed wire, unexploded ordnance or human remains. If discovered, stop work and report immediately, keeping the area clear of people and livestock.

Metal Detecting Safety
Permission & Boundaries: Always obtain written permission from landowners. Avoid protected sites like Scheduled Monuments or Sites of Special Scientific Interest.