The next stage of the Rievaulx Landscapes Project was launched at a workshop held at Rievaulx Abbey on 28 February 2015.

2015 marks nearly 100 years since the abbey was given to the nation, and a number of related initiatives suggest that a new chapter has begun for Rievaulx.

Trevor Pearson from English Heritage explained why the abbey needs to be understood in its broader landscape context. This context both pre- and post-dates the monastic period, and is physically close to significant landscape features, such as the Windy Pits. These limestone fissures include human burials and possible ritual deposits dating back to the Neolithic or Early Bronze Age. http://www.prehistory.yas.org.uk/content/windypits.html

English Heritage is continuing to study and protect the area of the former monastic centre of the abbey, which is now a Scheduled Ancient Monument.  A Structure from Motion survey will be carried out over the abbey precinct, when weather conditions permit. English Heritage is also planning a major re-presentation of the site museum, and workshop participants were encouraged to support the fund raising for this. The outline of the re-presentation plans, and how people can support the Abbey Challenge, are on the Rievaulx Abbey page on the English Heritage website.

Through its links to research institutions, the collaborative Rievaulx Landscapes project is being informed by current archaeological research into landscapes elsewhere in the world. Stephen Humphreys of Durham University gave an example of this. His current research is centred on an early 1st millennium monastic landscape in the Levant and will use lidar (Light Detection and Ranging) data to analyse the relationship between early monastic sites and water source s.

Freya Horsfield from Durham University provided an update on other work which has Rievaulx at its heart. There will be possibilities for volunteers to help create the new chapter for Rievaulx Abbey.  The first stage of this will be to use lidar data (as being used by Stephen Humphreys on monastic sites in the Levant) to detect features of archaeological interest in areas associated with Rievaulx. Possibilities for investigation using this technique include an upland zone around Bilsdale. This zone includes land given to Rievaulx by Walter Espec. Espec was the founder of the monastery, and gave the original parcel of land in the Rye Valley on which the monastery was built.

The Altogether Archaeology project in the North Pennines has shown that it is possible for volunteers to carry out a crucial stage of interpreting lidar data. The Rievaulx Landscapes project would learn from the Altogether Archaeology experience, and build on this by creating study groups in which people could share and test out ideas.

If people are interested in volunteering for this lidar interpretation work, the next step would be to attend a training workshop which will provide the necessary skills. Further details of the date and location of this workshop, and how to apply for a place, will be made available via this website as soon as possible.