Mapmaking

This week was mapmaking!

“Analytical survey is a powerful tool that can help unravel the stories embedded in the landscape record. It involves the keen observation, careful recording and thoughtful analysis of visible archaeological remains.” (Jamieson et al, 2017)

Maps are an essential part of archaeology as well as everyday life. They can be used in a variety of ways and there are different types. Flexner points out that “the objectives of the archaeological fieldwork will structure the nature of the map” and so this needs to be taken into consideration when analysing them as the context may have influenced the way they represent certain things, similarly with photography.

In the workshop this week we used the software Digimap which offers a variety of functions to produce different types of maps, from historical maps to Ordnance Survey maps. First, we had to find Bootham Park Hospital, York on a historical map of the 1930s and highlight it by drawing around the area and making the fill colour transparent. This enables you to identify a specific area without blocking or disrupting any of its features.

Map Showing Bootham Park Hospital (2018) Image by Author

Next, we had to use the Ordnance Survey map and locate 3 sites: Castle Howard, Harewood House, and King’s Manor. At each site we placed a marker to identify it and added a label to each marker to state which site it was. This was so that when you zoomed out on the map all three sites are clearly shown. I chose to have the colour of the markers go from blue to purple to pink. This is to represent the age of the sites, going from oldest to youngest, with blue being the oldest and pink being the youngest.

Screenshot of map with Castle Howard Label (2018) Image by Author

Map showing location of 3 different sites (2018) Image by Author

I quite enjoyed this workshop as it taught me valuable skills that I can use when doing essays (or even the dreaded dissertation!). It is also something that doesn’t necessarily have to be used for archaeological purposes and so can be applied to a variety of disciplines.

Bibliography:

Flexner, J.L. (2009). Where is reflexive map-making in archaeological research? Towards a place based approach. Archaeological Review from Cambridge, 24(1), pp. 14

Jamieson, E., Ainsworth, S., Bowden M., McOmish D., Pearson T. (2017). Understanding the Archaeology of Landscapes: A Guide to Good Recording Practice (Second Edition). English Heritage, pp. 1

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