Two friends have started a two-year project to capture the archaeological beauty of Anglesey (Wales) from the air. Pilot John Rowlands and photographer David Roberts, both from the island, expect to take thousands of pictures for a systematic survey. They hope to reveal the island's past from the air and donate their pictures to an expert body. The Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales has been offered the pictures.
     John Rowlands, a senior technician at Bangor University's Ocean Science's faculty, said the project was their hobby. "We are trying to give something back that will hopefully benefit the island," he said. "It's quite a difficult thing to do but it will get done slowly and surely."
     Mr Rowlands, flies a Cessna 172 based at Caernarfon, around the island while David Roberts takes the photographs. From their unique position, the two hope to pick out ancient features on the ground such as old field boundaries and river courses. "I believe Anglesey has the highest density of neolithic remains in Europe," added Mr Rowlands.
     Isle of Anglesey Council's Museums Officer Alun Gruffydd said there were more archaeological sites per square miles than any other county in Wales, some of which were discovered when the A55 was built."There are in the region of 15 burial chambers, which are neolithic in date, which can be seen today. Two or three centuries ago there would have been many more." Mr Gruffydd said he thought the aerial project was "fantastic".

Source: BBC News (11 February 2005)