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Positive crop marks of a Middle Neolithic ring ditch system

The long known circle ditch at Eching-Viecht (Landshut district) as well as the neighbouring ditch, which can probably also be dated to Neolithic times, emerged in spring and early summer 2016 as clear crop marks in a wheat field. The survey was carried out at the beginning of July in the low evening sun with both the normal camera and the IR camera. In addition to the two outer ramparts, the 2 narrower ditches, presumably belonging to palisades, also stood out in the circular ditch system. Furthermore, a number of pits became visible. The aerial photography findings coincide with the structures of the roundel recorded in 2012 by the Bavarian State Office for the Preservation of Monuments using a magnetometer.

Positive crop marks of the ring ditch system (normal photograph taken on 01.07.2016).
Fig. 1: Positive crop marks of the ring ditch system (normal photograph taken on 01.07.2016).

Shortly afterwards, the site was flown over again with the IR camera. The contours of the findings stand out even more vividly in the IR image.

Positive Bewuchsmerkmale der Kreisgrabenanlage im IR-Bild
Fig. 2: The same circular ditch system in the IR image (01.07.2016).

The neighbouring ditchwork system is also clearly visible in the IR image.

Positive crop marks of the adjacent Neolithic ditch system in the IR image
Fig. 3: Positive crop marks of the adjacent Neolithic ditch system in the IR image (01.07.2016).