Author: digAvoch

An interactive, 3d model of Ormond Castle has been produced by Andy Hickie using the photographs from the aerial survey carried out in March. The model can be viewed at  https://skfb.ly/VPHJ

Are you interested in finding out more, and helping out? We are looking for assistance in many areas.  If you have some free time and an interest in history, science, technology, IT, communication, research, culture, anthropology there might be a job for you! Would you be interesting in helping the steering group with tasks such as website updating or emailing?  researching history?  or even being part of the steering group itself?

We would love to hear from you if you can help at all.  Please get in touch via our facebook page or email address digavoch@gmail.com

Following a bit of a hiatus over the summer, the steering group will be taking a major step in the weeks and months ahead with the compilation of a Written Scheme of Investigation (WSI).  This pivotal document draws on the Project Design conceived in the early days and the many questions surrounding the basic timeline and phases of occupation of the castle.  These are now augmented by the exciting survey results from our collaboration in the spring with Nosas (North of Scotland Archaeological Society) which has amazed us all with newly revealed features not evident in Beaton’s original survey in 1883.  This WSI will underpin a future excavation bid and associated permissions and funding applications.

There is a local archaeological dig on the Black Isle at Kirkmicheal.  It would be great to show support.

You can find out more information on the NOSAS website  Link here

The Steering Committee met middle of September to review what has happened so far and plan our next steps. We are going to use the survey data we’ve gathered so far to draft a Written Scheme of Investigation which will form the basis of any funding applications and help to secure the necessary permissions. We’ll keep you updated on its progress, in the meantime don’t miss this month’s Highland Archaeology Festival:http://www.highlandarchaeologyfestival.org/

Meryl Marshall of NOSAS has produced a detailed plan of Ormond Castle, following the joint survey carried out by NOSAS and Avoch Community Archaeology. The plan is reproduced here, with permission, and shows the site to be far more complex than Beaton’s survey suggests.

Following the recent plane table and photogrammetry survey of Ormond Castle, we are now able to produce a 3d model of the site. Thanks must go to Andy Hickie of the Avoch Community Archaeology group for making the video and Alan Thompson of NOSAS for the aerial photography images.

Look at the details you can see.  We are looking forward to learning more about the lumps and bumps in due course.

Click on the link below…

YouTube link

Enjoy!

Alan Thompson of NOSAS has kindly given us permission to post a few images he has taken from the quadcopter survey he did on Monday the 21st of March 2016.

They are great images that show the survey in a wider context.

Thank you Alan.

Definition of Plane tabling:

Plane table. noun. A portable surveying instrument consisting essentially of a drawing board and a ruler mounted on a tripod and used to sight and map topographical details.

Photos taken by Shona Leggatt

Here are some pictures taken by Shona Leggatt of our plane tabling on Sunday the 20th March 2016. Great to see a mix of locals and Nosas  on the site.

Thanks very much to Nosas for showing us what to do and how to do it.  We are looking forward to seeing the result of everyone’s hard work!