Early comparative cartographic papers of Scotland - information sources for the natural and cultural heritage conservation

Abstract

In these days we need trend analysis using long time series of data to determine whether human activities are creating benefit or harm to our environment. Early cartographic papers are source of these valuable information on landscape development and changes e.g. change of land cover, land use, relief, hydrographical network etc. caused by interactions between natural influences and human activity in both a positive and negative sense. The paper describes two early comparative cartographic papers of Scotland - Pont's Map and Military Survey of Scotland, then deals with a review of the potential and current state of the utilization of the mentioned maps and general application of the early maps for natural and cultural heritage conservation