A collection of over 5000 aerial photographs of Irish archaeological sites and landscapes bequeathed by Leo Swan to the National Museum of Ireland are currently being catalogued and scanned to be made available online.
The photographs which were taken over the course of about 30 years of aerial survey are the result of Swan’s life time interest in both archaeology and flying. Many of the photographs often consist of close-up images of particular sites from various angles as his plane circled the site. Others take the long view incorporating not just the site or sites but their wider landscape contest.
Crop mark of a medieval Anglo-Norman castle (motte) and bailey in Newtown, Co Dublin.
Unidentified earthwork features revealed in the snow melt.
Wood Quay, Dublin City during excavation of the medieval settlement complex. Christchurch cathedral can be seen in the centre of the image.
Dunguaire 16th century Castle (tower house), Dungory, Co Galway.
The village of Duleek in Commons, Co. Meath. This infra red image shows how the medieval ecclesiastical enclosure survives in the street pattern and field boundaries.
The large mound in this image is the focal point of the Neolithic passage tomb cemetery at Knowth, Co. Meath under excavation in 1970.