How Archaeology Walkovers Help Us Understand the Past Beneath Our Feet
An archaeology walkover is a non-intrusive, systematic exploration of the landscape. Archaeologists walk a defined area, recording visible traces of the past — from old field boundaries and forgotten buildings to earthworks or fragments of pottery lying on the surface. Using GPS and digital mapping, these features are precisely located and logged, helping us piece together how people once used and shaped the land.
This early-stage survey acts as both detective work and preservation. It tells us where to look closer, what to protect, and how future development can respect and celebrate what’s already there. By combining historic maps, aerial imagery, and local knowledge, archaeologists can often trace the evolution of a place — seeing how industry, nature, and community life have shifted over centuries.
At the River Park in Levenmouth, this approach is helping to reveal the rich industrial and cultural layers of a landscape that was once the powerhouse of Fife. Every walkover adds to our understanding of the river’s story — from mills and mining to modern regeneration — ensuring the history beneath our feet helps guide the area’s future.
If you’d like to experience this process firsthand, you can join the River Park Archaeologists for our third walking survey!
Meeting Point: Poplar Road, near the entrance to the River Park by the big railway bridge
Book your place: madison.reavis@greenactiontrust.org
Numbers are limited, so booking is essential.
Bring your curiosity (and your walking shoes!) — and help us uncover the stories that still lie within the River Park landscape.