In June, the West Lothian Archaeology group took receipt of a ground resistance meter from Prof. Bill Martin and Roger Miles of Hertfordshire (www.armadale.org.uk/archaeogeophysics). Ground resistance surveys were carried out by Jim Knowles at Netherton (www.armadale.org.uk/dowagerhall) and Blackness (www.armadale.org.uk/blackness), and a report outlining the results is being prepared by Jim. Further survey has also taken place at Gormyre Hill (www.armadale.org.uk/gormyre), where is has been suggested that some features in visble in aerial photographs taken by the group may be a result of earlier ground surveys. To test this hypothesis, the most recent survey (Sept 2010) was carried out over the same area but in a direction perpendicular to the original one.
The West Lothian Archaeology Group continues to promote the use of aerial photography by local societies as a useful tool for fieldwork, and Jim Knowles has produced an impressive series of images from Uist, despite challenging weather conditions (www.armadale.org.uk/uist). The open weekend and later visits by school children to Cairnpapple proved to be a success (www.armadale.org.uk/cairnpapple) - a job well done by Ian Lewis and his team of rangers! The meeting with YAC leaders at Braemar, to demonstrate kite aerial photography, did not go well due to a lack of wind. A pole had to suffice (www.armadale.org.uk/braemar).
In other fieldwork news, the digging of test pits on Gormyre has been delayed, but it is hoped that a start will be made soon, if only on a limited number. As yet, permission has not been received to do a geophysics survey on the prehistoric site at Beecraigs (www.armadale.org.uk/beecraigs), but it is hoped that this will go ahead in the near future. More details about the Knights of St John were added to the website this summer (www.armadale.org.uk/preceptory), and when funds are available, surveying equipment and a magnetometer are next on the group's shopping list.
Further information on the work of the West Lothian Archaeology Group, along with details of how to get involved, may be found at their website, www.westlothianarchaeology.org.uk.