The exhibition is on view through 11 February 2007, Admission is £5.

These unique images create a sense of wonder at the scale and magnificence of mankind's achievements as well as highlighting the complex relationship between culture and nature. Humans have shaped nature but are also shaped by it.

The photographs provoke questions about the people who created these monuments, why they created them, and what they meant to them. To provide insights into these people, the exhibition will also feature objects from the Museum's worldwide collection which will be displayed alongside some of the photographs.

This will present a snapshot of these civilizations and the monuments which defined them. A stone hand-axe, one of the earliest objects made by humans from the Olduvai Gorge in Tanzania, will be displayed alongside a photograph of the site, a Mummy portrait by an image of the Kharga Oasis and a seated Buddhist goddess next to a shot of Anuradhapura in Sri Lanka. The objects will personalise these imposing sites, re-emphasising the part humans have played in their construction or, in some cases, destruction.

The photographs also serve as reminders of the transience of culture and civilizations. In many instances the photographs are a reminder of times that have passed, beliefs which have faded and empires which have crumbled. Aerial photography is vital in preserving views of sites which have subsequently been damaged or lost. Environmental destruction, excavation, the removal of material for other purposes and reconstruction work have all had a profound impact on these sites.

The photographs highlight the environmental impact the modern world has on its heritage. For example, it is likely that sites in Iraq have sustained considerable damage as a result of bombardment and looting, the aerial photographs of sites from that region in the exhibition may now be an essential record of these buildings and monuments prior to the conflict.

By www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk