Those of on you on the mailing list will know we have a "scrub bash" with Iron Age style fence building session next week, and you are welcome to sign up to join us! 

Where: Pulpit Hill hillfort, near Princes Risborough, Bucks. 

When: Wednesday 18th September, 9.30 - 2.30

What: we will be cutting down ash saplings that are affected by "ash dieback" disease. We will then be using these to continue building a wattle fence around the ramparts of the Iron Age hillfort of Pulpit Hill. This serves to enhance the appearance of the earthworks, and guides walkers and cyclists not to trek over them, something that has been causing damage. You get a day out in the fresh air, a bit of light physical activity, and you will be learning the fun ancient skill of wattle fence building! The attached image shows what a team of c. 12 managed in a day earlier this year... but we still have at least two thirds of the ramparts to go! 

Registration is essential as places are limited, and closes at 8 am Friday this week, so get signed up! You can do so at the following form:  https://share.hsforms.com/1OJNDWwJhRfOpAmtkf3Hccg2orgq  

New blogpost up on the excavations we are running at Burnham Beeches! Hope to see some of you along at the open day -  https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/prehistory-at-burnham-beeches-tickets-65538500419

https://chilternsbeacons.org/wp/2019/09/13/getting-beneath-the-surface/

New blog post up. Something about benches. 

https://chilternsbeacons.org/wp/2019/09/17/a-temporary-bench-mark/

The Beacons of the Past Autumn Newsletter is out: you can have a read here:  https://www.chilternsaonb.org/news/362/19/Beacons-of-the-Past-Autumn-2019-e-Newsletter.html

Of particular interest might be two events:

• Firstly, a "LiDAR Mapathon" (Friday 8th November, 9.30 – 12.30, Chinnor): bring your laptop and come and join us for some group mapping on the portal! Sure we can do it from home on our own, but it’s more fun and sociable, and we can learn more, by getting together and doing it in the same place. You’ll need to bring your laptop (plus charger, and mouse if you wish) and we’ll sit down together in a room to work through some sites. Working in a group we can discuss and share ideas about tricky features. No experience necessary! (A couple of laptops can be borrowed if you don’t have one.) Spaces limited, so sign up at the following link: https://share.hsforms.com/199TUaHunS2qjsnojwySTJQ2orgq
• Secondly, the beginning of the Review Phase! We will be running our first "Review training" session (Friday 29th November, 10.00 – 15.00, Chinnor), to give you the skills to help with checking LiDAR Citizen Records and helping to refine all this lovely information we've got coming in into a neat, ordered database.  In order to help with this you will need to have some experience of working on the Citizen portal, and demonstrate a good understanding of the process of developing an interpretation of a feature through decoding its morphology, its relationship with its landscape, and by bringing in other data sources. Don’t worry, we’re not expecting everyone to be LiDAR wizards, but if you feel you have got a bit of experience and a good feel for it, please do sign up! The sign up form can be found here: https://share.hsforms.com/12PunJVoPSzq6QPWWvkJizQ2orgq

There is also a new blog post up here: The Problem with Hillforts... Part 1 

A quick reminder about the "LiDAR Mapathon" taking place next Friday 8th November, 9.30 – 12.30, in Chinnor. Thanks to those who have already signed up - still some places available! The form to sign up is here:   https://share.hsforms.com/199TUaHunS2qjsnojwySTJQ2orgq

I'll be emailing all those with confirmation of places on Thursday this week. 

LiDAR Mapathon: bring your laptop and come and join us for some group mapping on the portal! Sure we can do it from home on our own, but it’s more fun and sociable, and we can learn more, by getting together and doing it in the same place. You’ll need to bring your laptop (plus charger, and mouse if you wish) and we’ll sit down together in a room to work through some sites. Working in a group we can discuss and share ideas about tricky features. No experience necessary! (A couple of laptops can be borrowed if you don’t have one.) Spaces limited, so sign up at the link.

Hi all and Happy New Year! We hope 2020 bring you much success, happiness, good health, and many LiDAR features...

A few quick notices with wider project news. 

Waulud’s Bank, Luton, Scrub Bash – Sunday 12^th January

A quick reminder regarding the scrub bash happening this weekend, on Sunday 12^th January. Do come and join us for some fresh air as we work to better protect the Neolithic enclosure, and a BBQ lunch will be laid on! Sign up here, with the deadline of midday tomorrow, Wednesday 8th January: https://share.hsforms.com/1EXdzBVSXSWKVINUzeKbR3w2orgq

LiDAR Review Portal Training - Wednesday 22^nd January – Great Kingshill Village Hall

There are still some places available for this training session, at which we will discuss more advanced ways of refining your interpretation of archaeological features found in the LiDAR data, and train you in how our “Review portal” works, so you can help us with creating our Master Database of features. Some experience using the LiDAR Citizen Portal is desirable. Sign up here: https://share.hsforms.com/1IwZIFfgySI-JAhk2rBV-yg2orgq

For those of you not on the project's mailing list, you might have missed our LiDAR Christmas Conundrum, found in our newsletter here:  https://www.chilternsaonb.org/uploads/BEACONS/Winter%202019-20.pdf

On the Citizen Science Portal you are used to looking at imagery derived from the Digital Terrain Model – a secondary product of the LiDAR data based on all the measurement our survey took of the ground surface. However, the survey also created thousands of measurements above the ground, on buildings, cars, and trees across the Chilterns. As a bit of Christmas fun, take a look at some of these images of complete sections of the point cloud of famous places around the Chilterns – can you work out where they are?

In case you didn't receive my latest news update via email:

In light of the present circumstances, we have taken the decision to halt all face-to-face events. This included the field checking and scrub bashing events that had been scheduled for the week just gone, but this will also include the Mapathon scheduled for next Wednesday 25^th March, and the training session scheduled for Friday 3^rd April.

Do not despair however, as these events are still planned to go ahead! We will be working out a way to deliver events remotely over the internet, so, technology permitting, you should be able to take part from the comfort of your own home, with no risk to your health from taking part! (Unless you’re eating or drinking something particularly unhealthy at the time…). I’m hoping participants will just need their computer (with speakers/headphones) and internet – if you have a microphone you will be able to chat/ask questions, but even if you don’t you will be able to type questions into the chat.

Hoping it should be good fun, and a great way to connect with the group and relieve some of the isolation. I’ve copied the details of the sessions down below again, with some additions – please do sign up! 😊

Wednesday 25^th March, Mapathon, 10.30 – 1

We’ll come together, now remotely, to do some mapping on the portal. I, together with the wider group, can answer questions, discuss, give thoughts or advice, and just generally socialise whilst doing some work on the LiDAR portals. You don’t have to be around for the whole time – just drop in when you can. Please sign up using the form here so I can email joining instructions out to you: https://share.hsforms.com/1TEC1dleTTzqC1d3BKhmxug2orgq

Friday 3^rd April, Improving your LiDAR Interpretation, 10.30 – 1

A slight change from the billed event – a session looking at how to improve your ability to interpret archaeological features from LiDAR data. Many of you came to my “Intro to LiDAR” courses. This is now a step up from that, and the first step towards becoming a “Reviewer.” We will look at how to get as much information as we possibly can from the LiDAR, improve our ability to recognise common feature types, and explore what other sources we can easily consult from home to add to our interpretation of sites. (Existing Reviewers have done this training, but are welcome to join to follow along again.) Sign up here: https://share.hsforms.com/1MbYcrdZSSIOTAtdmKenvMQ2orgq

Tuesday 7^th April, Review Training Practical, 10.30 – 1

The ‘Review Phase’ of the project is now underway, to turn the many citizen science records you’ve created into our neat ‘Master Database’. Come and join the Review Team, with access to all those Citizen Records and our “Review Portal” to work through them. Ideally you will have been able to join for the “Improving LiDAR Interpretation” session the previous week, and building on that knowledge we will look at how to use the Review Portal and create our consistent Master Records. (Existing Reviewers are welcome to join to follow along again.) Sign up here: https://share.hsforms.com/1Q16nKTqVTKK7qE8RagBmaw2orgq

Wednesday 8^th April, Mapathon, 1 – 3.30

Another Mapathon, this time in the afternoon. As before, sign up here: https://share.hsforms.com/161WIgSp-ScyautRXhZnGAw2orgq

Newsletter to follow at the start of April. Hope to see some of you at our events, or on the LiDAR forum. Stay safe and well.

All best,

Ed

Some more events for your diaries! Lots of repeats, including going back to the original "Introduction to LiDAR for Archaeology" session, so apologies if you've done them before, but great if you haven't 🙂 The sessions will be run remotely over Microsoft Teams, so you will just need your computer, an internet connection, and some headphones.

Introduction to LiDAR for Archaeology, Wednesday 15^th April, 10 am – 12.30 pm 

Lots of you did this course last year, but we have plenty of new people who have signed up since these workshops were on. So if you missed them first time around, another couple of chances to learn what this LiDAR business is all about. These sessions will be an introduction to the theory and method of LiDAR data capture, how the data is processed to be useful to archaeologists, and then how we can go about interpreting the data to find new archaeological sites or improve our understanding of existing sites and landscapes. We will be taking a look at the Chilterns Citizen Science LiDAR Portal to show you how that works. Sign up here to receive the joining link: https://share.hsforms.com/1iMyi4C2bQhmn-XL9KXL3XQ2orgq

Improving LiDAR Interpretation, Thursday 23^rd April 1 – 3.30

A session looking at how to improve your ability to interpret archaeological features from LiDAR data. Many of you came to my “Intro to LiDAR” courses. This is now a step up from that, and the first step towards becoming a “Reviewer” if you wish to. We will look at how to get as much information as we possibly can from the LiDAR, improve our ability to recognise common feature types, and explore what other sources we can easily consult from home to add to our interpretation of sites. Sign up here:   https://share.hsforms.com/1nPZva8izQXe5ieu2B1K1Tg2orgq

Review Portal Training,  Monday 27^th April, 10 – 12.30

The ‘Review Phase’ of the project is now underway, to turn the many citizen science records you’ve created into our neat ‘Master Database’. Come and join the Review Team, with access to all those Citizen Records and our “Review Portal” to work through them. Ideally you will have been able to join for the “Improving LiDAR Interpretation” session the previous week, and building on that knowledge we will look at how to use the Review Portal and create our consistent Master Records. Sign up here: https://share.hsforms.com/1dTrXEk5aTGS0wVbvczDnEQ2orgq

Mapathon, Friday 1^st May, 10 – 12.30

You know the drill - log on with the group to work together on the Citizen and Review Portals, with me and others around to bounce ideas, discuss difficult sites, and just generally enjoy some (remote) company. Sign up here: https://share.hsforms.com/1G18Ysj-6Rg6YrvZaL7EpEA2orgq

Introduction to LiDAR for Archaeology, Thursday 7th May, 10 - 12.30

As above. Sign up here:  https://share.hsforms.com/1uQg2wxvFQE68pmsUfLyMHg2orgq

Hi all,

A couple more sessions to possibly add to your diaries...

Tuesday 19th May, 10 - 12.30: Improving LiDAR Interpretation

A session looking at how to improve your ability to interpret archaeological features from LiDAR data. Many of you came to my “Intro to LiDAR” courses. This is now a step up from that, and the first step towards becoming a “Reviewer” if you wish to. We will look at how to get as much information as we possibly can from the LiDAR, improve our ability to recognise common feature types, and explore what other sources we can easily consult from home to add to our interpretation of sites. Sign up here:   https://share.hsforms.com/1BYV8dhyRTf25zK5o0Kg1Zw2orgq

Friday 22nd May, 10 - 12.30: Mapathon

You know the drill - log on with the group to work together on the Citizen and Review Portals, with me and others around to bounce ideas, discuss difficult sites, and just generally enjoy some (remote) company. Sign up here:  https://share.hsforms.com/1oyHxRCpdT_mVJ4ehusSMBQ2orgq

Tuesday 26th May, 10 - 12.30: Review Portal Training

We are still keen to get more of you promoted to "Reviewer" status to help with turning all of the Citizen Records into our Master Database Entries! Come and further imporove your LiDAR interpretation skills (hopefully you can make it to the session on the 19th), and start getting to grips with our online GIS system for evaluating record. Sign up here:  https://share.hsforms.com/11XdtcK__TBSc6LzhMMDTeA2orgq

New blog post up for your delectation...:  https://chilternsbeacons.org/wp/2020/05/07/citizen-science-and-lidar-apparently-mostly-on-wednesdays/

(Happy to have guest blogs if anyone is interested in writing something LiDAR-y... just let me know!)

Another training session aimed at those of you new to the portal this week: 

An Introduction to the Beacons of the Past LiDAR Portal

Wednesday 20th May, 10 am - 12.30 pm (BST)

I will introduce the project and the LiDAR portal, and give you a demonstration and tips on how to get started finding archaeological features hidden in the data.

To sign up please fill in the form here, so that I can email out joining instructions:  https://share.hsforms.com/1mArTKWaHQmuaQw4RsjAzCQ2orgq  

New blog post! How about that, two in two weeks...

https://chilternsbeacons.org/wp/2020/05/15/citizen-science-and-lidar-part-2-a-global-affair/

Another set of the training sessions for those who haven't done them yet, or who want to go round again! 

Tuesday 2nd June, 10 - 11.30: An Introduction to the Beacons of the Past LiDAR Portal

https://share.hsforms.com/1D8v3MU3jRAWtV5FdHpYlZw2orgq

Tuesday 9th June, 10 - 12.30: Improving your LiDAR Interpretation Skills

https://share.hsforms.com/1113xGmTMSs6xInEsRmV_-g2orgq

Tuesday 16th June, 10 - 12.30: LiDAR Review Portal Training

https://share.hsforms.com/1JrZo5TREToqd5e-x4zO5Rg2orgq

Also two more mapathons:

Friday 5th June, 10 - 12.30:  https://share.hsforms.com/10VbLPLVoRD2OxROzsHgkVg2orgq

Friday 19th June, 10 - 12.30:  https://share.hsforms.com/145saGSM3Tf6aUijzoUAnAw2orgq

(A short blog post on the fun Wendy and I had presenting at the #PATC5 conference on Friday - the fifth Public Archaeology Twitter Conference:  https://chilternsbeacons.org/wp/2020/06/01/chilforts-in-conference-twitter-style/  )