David Stott
@davstott.bsky.social
Paleotopographer. Asking how people changed landscapes and landscapes changed people.
GIS, remote sensing, archaeology.
Tinkerer. Aspiring bodger.
Glaswegian in Jutland.
Archaeologist at Moesgaard Museum. Personal account. All views my own etc.
GIS, remote sensing, archaeology.
Tinkerer. Aspiring bodger.
Glaswegian in Jutland.
Archaeologist at Moesgaard Museum. Personal account. All views my own etc.
Pinned
David Stott
@davstott.bsky.social
· Nov 13
Reposted by David Stott
Just for fun I looked up some numbers on the International Space Station. The photovoltaic radiator the ISS uses for cooling has an area of ~42 m^2, rejects 14kW of heat, and weighs 740.7 kg.
Scale that up to a 2MW data centre: your PVR is the size of a football pitch and weighs a hundred tonnes.
Scale that up to a 2MW data centre: your PVR is the size of a football pitch and weighs a hundred tonnes.
This would have been a good point for someone to have asked, is that really how things work? Or is vacuum in fact an excellent insulator? www.ft.com/content/a5cf...
February 10, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Just for fun I looked up some numbers on the International Space Station. The photovoltaic radiator the ISS uses for cooling has an area of ~42 m^2, rejects 14kW of heat, and weighs 740.7 kg.
Scale that up to a 2MW data centre: your PVR is the size of a football pitch and weighs a hundred tonnes.
Scale that up to a 2MW data centre: your PVR is the size of a football pitch and weighs a hundred tonnes.
We need to spend some time gently educating our geological colleagues that we're here and we know stuff:
bsky.app/profile/davs...
bsky.app/profile/davs...
Interesting. I'm concerned by:
a) a somewhat cursory engagement with prior art & a large body of archaeological literature on this topic
b) referencing Graham Hancock 💀💀💀!!!
a) a somewhat cursory engagement with prior art & a large body of archaeological literature on this topic
b) referencing Graham Hancock 💀💀💀!!!
New paper from Adam Morley shows that some vegetation anomalies in multi-spectral satellite data correlate with geophysical data, and can be used to identify buried archaeological structures like tunnels and drains, with examples from Cornwall and Normandy.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 10, 2026 at 4:51 PM
We need to spend some time gently educating our geological colleagues that we're here and we know stuff:
bsky.app/profile/davs...
bsky.app/profile/davs...
Reposted by David Stott
Relative elevation models are both compelling visualizations of fluvial systems but also frankly useful for geologic mapping of terraces or quantifying zones of potential flood inundation. Several years ago Open Topography coded up an method for using python to make REMs (see below) 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 8:37 PM
Relative elevation models are both compelling visualizations of fluvial systems but also frankly useful for geologic mapping of terraces or quantifying zones of potential flood inundation. Several years ago Open Topography coded up an method for using python to make REMs (see below) 🧵
Reposted by David Stott
These are so beautifully designed and built! 😍 and extend the existing 'The Bare Bones' learning materials from Forestry and Land Scotland and written by Gavin Lindsay, Matt Ritchie and Alison Sheridan.
Thanks for highlighting @thebefs.bsky.social 🙏
Thanks for highlighting @thebefs.bsky.social 🙏
February 10, 2026 at 2:35 PM
These are so beautifully designed and built! 😍 and extend the existing 'The Bare Bones' learning materials from Forestry and Land Scotland and written by Gavin Lindsay, Matt Ritchie and Alison Sheridan.
Thanks for highlighting @thebefs.bsky.social 🙏
Thanks for highlighting @thebefs.bsky.social 🙏
That it is.
Wild / Leica also made the best survey tripods with the nifty interlocks on the legs when closed.
Wild / Leica also made the best survey tripods with the nifty interlocks on the legs when closed.
February 10, 2026 at 3:19 PM
That it is.
Wild / Leica also made the best survey tripods with the nifty interlocks on the legs when closed.
Wild / Leica also made the best survey tripods with the nifty interlocks on the legs when closed.
I'm left handed & wear mine on the right but a people seem to think that's aberrant and wrong for some reason?
February 10, 2026 at 10:28 AM
I'm left handed & wear mine on the right but a people seem to think that's aberrant and wrong for some reason?
The M5 is the most beautiful of all the Leicas.
February 10, 2026 at 9:25 AM
The M5 is the most beautiful of all the Leicas.
Reposted by David Stott
Record low sea levels in the Baltic Sea – Will there be a major inflow of saltwater from the North Sea? - IOW
www.iow.de/message/item...
www.iow.de/message/item...
Record low sea levels in the Baltic Sea – Will there be a major inflow of saltwater from the North Sea?
Photo of turbulent waves on the Baltic Sea during stormy weather.
www.iow.de
February 10, 2026 at 6:36 AM
Record low sea levels in the Baltic Sea – Will there be a major inflow of saltwater from the North Sea? - IOW
www.iow.de/message/item...
www.iow.de/message/item...
February 9, 2026 at 9:50 PM
.. in particlarly br Kvamme and @gverhoev.bsky.social.
I'd recommend that you specifically seek out archaeological prospection specialists when you look for domain experts. There's not many of us, but we're nice:
go.bsky.app/M9FwG2K
I'd recommend that you specifically seek out archaeological prospection specialists when you look for domain experts. There's not many of us, but we're nice:
go.bsky.app/M9FwG2K
February 9, 2026 at 10:02 AM
.. in particlarly br Kvamme and @gverhoev.bsky.social.
I'd recommend that you specifically seek out archaeological prospection specialists when you look for domain experts. There's not many of us, but we're nice:
go.bsky.app/M9FwG2K
I'd recommend that you specifically seek out archaeological prospection specialists when you look for domain experts. There's not many of us, but we're nice:
go.bsky.app/M9FwG2K
Good- citing Hancock is tantamount to uncritically citing a a young earth creationist in a geoscience paper.
In terms of the wider literature- multi-spectral imaging has been used by archaeologists for decades at this point, and there are some good papers on sensor fusion and spectral indices...
In terms of the wider literature- multi-spectral imaging has been used by archaeologists for decades at this point, and there are some good papers on sensor fusion and spectral indices...
February 9, 2026 at 10:02 AM
Good- citing Hancock is tantamount to uncritically citing a a young earth creationist in a geoscience paper.
In terms of the wider literature- multi-spectral imaging has been used by archaeologists for decades at this point, and there are some good papers on sensor fusion and spectral indices...
In terms of the wider literature- multi-spectral imaging has been used by archaeologists for decades at this point, and there are some good papers on sensor fusion and spectral indices...
Reposted by David Stott
Interesting. I'm concerned by:
a) a somewhat cursory engagement with prior art & a large body of archaeological literature on this topic
b) referencing Graham Hancock 💀💀💀!!!
a) a somewhat cursory engagement with prior art & a large body of archaeological literature on this topic
b) referencing Graham Hancock 💀💀💀!!!
New paper from Adam Morley shows that some vegetation anomalies in multi-spectral satellite data correlate with geophysical data, and can be used to identify buried archaeological structures like tunnels and drains, with examples from Cornwall and Normandy.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 8, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Interesting. I'm concerned by:
a) a somewhat cursory engagement with prior art & a large body of archaeological literature on this topic
b) referencing Graham Hancock 💀💀💀!!!
a) a somewhat cursory engagement with prior art & a large body of archaeological literature on this topic
b) referencing Graham Hancock 💀💀💀!!!
A slightly magnetic rock or a bumpity rock?
(I work with both)
(I work with both)
February 8, 2026 at 5:07 PM
A slightly magnetic rock or a bumpity rock?
(I work with both)
(I work with both)
at this, and pointed out that referencing provably anti-scientific racist isn't really ideal.
Citing these dingdongs risks legitimising them. The state of the world at the minute shows us where that gets us. Beware.
Citing these dingdongs risks legitimising them. The state of the world at the minute shows us where that gets us. Beware.
February 8, 2026 at 4:44 PM
at this, and pointed out that referencing provably anti-scientific racist isn't really ideal.
Citing these dingdongs risks legitimising them. The state of the world at the minute shows us where that gets us. Beware.
Citing these dingdongs risks legitimising them. The state of the world at the minute shows us where that gets us. Beware.
To harp on: This is a problem that happens sometimes in interdisciplinary work. The authors aren't domain experts & aren't well versed in archaeology. Fair enough.
However- this is something that indicates a broken review / editorial process. At some point someone who is should've had a look...
However- this is something that indicates a broken review / editorial process. At some point someone who is should've had a look...
February 8, 2026 at 4:44 PM
To harp on: This is a problem that happens sometimes in interdisciplinary work. The authors aren't domain experts & aren't well versed in archaeology. Fair enough.
However- this is something that indicates a broken review / editorial process. At some point someone who is should've had a look...
However- this is something that indicates a broken review / editorial process. At some point someone who is should've had a look...
Interesting. I'm concerned by:
a) a somewhat cursory engagement with prior art & a large body of archaeological literature on this topic
b) referencing Graham Hancock 💀💀💀!!!
a) a somewhat cursory engagement with prior art & a large body of archaeological literature on this topic
b) referencing Graham Hancock 💀💀💀!!!
New paper from Adam Morley shows that some vegetation anomalies in multi-spectral satellite data correlate with geophysical data, and can be used to identify buried archaeological structures like tunnels and drains, with examples from Cornwall and Normandy.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
February 8, 2026 at 3:30 PM
Interesting. I'm concerned by:
a) a somewhat cursory engagement with prior art & a large body of archaeological literature on this topic
b) referencing Graham Hancock 💀💀💀!!!
a) a somewhat cursory engagement with prior art & a large body of archaeological literature on this topic
b) referencing Graham Hancock 💀💀💀!!!
Reposted by David Stott
Give lengthy and incomprehensible explanations when questioned.
February 8, 2026 at 11:35 AM
Give lengthy and incomprehensible explanations when questioned.
Think I've heard that one too.
February 8, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Think I've heard that one too.
Reposted by David Stott
Cliffs might seem strong and safe but they can provide many hazards. Storms, prolonged periods of wet weather, cold snaps and heatwaves can trigger landslides.
Check the image below to see if you can spot the cliff-based hazards in this scene. Answers here: www.bgs.ac.uk/discovering-...
Check the image below to see if you can spot the cliff-based hazards in this scene. Answers here: www.bgs.ac.uk/discovering-...
February 8, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Cliffs might seem strong and safe but they can provide many hazards. Storms, prolonged periods of wet weather, cold snaps and heatwaves can trigger landslides.
Check the image below to see if you can spot the cliff-based hazards in this scene. Answers here: www.bgs.ac.uk/discovering-...
Check the image below to see if you can spot the cliff-based hazards in this scene. Answers here: www.bgs.ac.uk/discovering-...
Is it non invasive / non destructive though?
(Insert story here about a certain professor accidentally giving a skull a third eye when probing the extent of a cairn...)
(Insert story here about a certain professor accidentally giving a skull a third eye when probing the extent of a cairn...)
February 7, 2026 at 11:00 PM
Is it non invasive / non destructive though?
(Insert story here about a certain professor accidentally giving a skull a third eye when probing the extent of a cairn...)
(Insert story here about a certain professor accidentally giving a skull a third eye when probing the extent of a cairn...)
Reposted by David Stott
My favorite artifact in the "you don't need AI to do art" discourse is, of course, screenwriter Dan O'Bannon's sketch of the facehugger to explain it to Giger.
February 7, 2026 at 6:39 PM
My favorite artifact in the "you don't need AI to do art" discourse is, of course, screenwriter Dan O'Bannon's sketch of the facehugger to explain it to Giger.
Reposted by David Stott
Having fun this evening on the tablet visualising St Mary’s Church, Whitekirk with a lime render.
#Procreate #iPad
#EastLothian
#Procreate #iPad
#EastLothian
February 6, 2026 at 8:40 PM
Having fun this evening on the tablet visualising St Mary’s Church, Whitekirk with a lime render.
#Procreate #iPad
#EastLothian
#Procreate #iPad
#EastLothian
And, as bonus here's a nice lidar scan of an enormous badger sett in a medieval fortress in Denmark.
bsky.app/profile/davs...
bsky.app/profile/davs...
Results are good. Now just need to work out the best workflow for processing the data.
February 7, 2026 at 9:07 AM
And, as bonus here's a nice lidar scan of an enormous badger sett in a medieval fortress in Denmark.
bsky.app/profile/davs...
bsky.app/profile/davs...
Archaeological sites do act as havens for biodiversity - the legal and social protections they have spare them from the worst of commercial forestry and agriculture.
I've been wanting to do a project on looking at fungal diversity on protected vs unprotected sites for ages.
I've been wanting to do a project on looking at fungal diversity on protected vs unprotected sites for ages.
February 7, 2026 at 9:03 AM
Archaeological sites do act as havens for biodiversity - the legal and social protections they have spare them from the worst of commercial forestry and agriculture.
I've been wanting to do a project on looking at fungal diversity on protected vs unprotected sites for ages.
I've been wanting to do a project on looking at fungal diversity on protected vs unprotected sites for ages.