Cost-effective Rock-art Recording within a Non-specialist Environment

At the recent CIPA 2007 Congress, the authors presented a paper which described the development, application and refinement of a simple, cost effective method to record and document rock-art (Chandler and Bryan, 2007). This was based on prior development of a recording methodology for capturing Aboriginal rock-art (Chandler et al., 2005a), including both pictographs and petroglyphs, at a range of sites and scales in Australia. The recent work focused on developing an approach that was simple enough for non-expert volunteers to capture stereo-imagery using low-cost, consumer-grade digital cameras and establish survey control through a range of simple scale bars. Once captured this ‘field package’ could be processed using commercially available photogrammetric software, both high-level and emerging lower-cost solutions.Following initial training conducted by both authors, in both the capture and processing approaches, the technique has been adopted and successfully used within a non-specialist, production environment by the Northumberland and Durham Rock Art Project. This three year English Heritage funded project, due for completion in July 2008, had the original objective of piloting a scheme to create a georeferenced index of around 1500 known rock art panels located in the north-east of England. It also sought to test a number of different techniques for recording the rock art, compare different techniques (both image and laser based) and make recommendations on those most suitable for routine monitoring in the field. However rather than use a specialist work-force experienced in photogrammetric survey, the project recruited around 60 volunteers from the local community who were trained using the recording methodology designed for them to use with ease. As well as highlighting the recording work undertaken by the project volunteers, this paper will describe the methodological development and how, through training and education, the volunteers have come to terms with using it. It will also introduce a number of ideas and approaches that should be considered for future development including application across the full range of carved panels that might typically be experienced 'out in the field'. A key point is to demonstrate that it is only simple recording methods which allow non specialist volunteers to carry out the substantive fieldwork and data acquisition required. Mobilizing the voluntary sector accrues significant political benefits beyond the obvious labour cost savings. In the UK four of the corporate strategies identified in English Heritage’s Research Strategy document (English Heritage, 2005) emphasize the role of local people becoming involved in caring for and taking responsibility for their historic environment. Only simple approaches similar to those developed in this project can stimulate and harness the enthusiasm of the voluntary worker necessary to begin to record the world’s heritage.