13th September 2012, 05:50 PM
Jack Wrote:Nah, differential melting of snow in a field is usually to do with earthworks, dips and shadows
err, as I think I've already pointed out, try actually READING my original post and maybe you'll realise how stupid that post is in this context, I specifically exempted earthworks !
!- on stripped archaeology snow seems to last longer on better draining stuff like gravel for some reason, maybe the snow on those bits isn't having warmth circulated to it from the meltwater it's sitting in? If you think of snow melting on a hard surface it's often melting from underneath with an overhang around the edges, which is perhaps part of a similar process?
@John - good earthwork/snow pics, but I'd been thinking more of semi-melted. Years back after a light snow shower the flattened part of the Rudston A cursus showed up beautifully as two white stripes (over the ditches, drainage again?) running across an otherwise melted landscape - only lasted for 10 mins and of course I didn't have a camera with me, but bl**dy brilliant!