60 ARCHAEOLOGICALRECORDING
Recording Environmental Evidence
The way in which the environment of a site influences the
survival of evidence has already been discussed (see
chapter 4). Having identified the significance of this area
of study, it is important to develop effective recording strat-
egies for it. Consulting the specialists whose work might
be most directly influenced by environmental factors is
essential. The conservator will want to know the details
of an object’s burial environment so that the optimum con-
servation treatment can be decided on. Scientific dating
methods may be influenced by factors in the site’s envir-
onment and those responsible for dating the objects will
want the relevant information in a usable form.
Space should be provided on dive-log sheets, or survey
and excavation record sheets, to record details of local-
ized environmental factors around individual objects or
areas of structure. Studies of general environmental fac-
tors affecting the site may require a specifically designed
form to accommodate all relevant information.
Recording Samples
Investigating environmental characteristics of a site
might involve taking samples for subsequent analysis
in controlled conditions. Non-artefactual deposits might
also require sampling for study. It is very important to
record what proportion the sample is of the whole and
to record that proportion carefully on the sample record
(e.g. 15 litres recovered of an estimated 50 litres). The
sampling procedure used to recover the samples should be
noted in detail. The sampling strategy adopted in the field
together with some indication of the density of material
collected over the site or the concentration within particular
features should also be included. In addition, details
relating to the length of time and condition of storage,
together with the current location of the original samples
(and all sub-samples if located elsewhere) should be
recorded. Each sample should be assigned a unique
identification number (see below).Recording Survey Results
The results of any survey need to be recorded and stored
as carefully as any other evidence. See chapter 14 where
the survey process is discussed in detail.Recording Plans and Sections
Drawings in general should be of a standard scale, usu-
ally 1:1 for small objects, 1:2 or 1:4 for larger finds, up
to 1:10 for most site-plans (though more reduction may
be necessary before publication). The following informa-
tion should be recorded on each drawing:- code/site name
- plan number
- subject (plan or section of what?)
- recording person
- draughtsperson
- date
- scale
- position (e.g. grid coordinates for plan square)
- orientation (e.g. north indicated on plans, and the
direction sections are facing).
This information should also be recorded alongside the
drawing number in a drawing register, a catalogue of all
drawings relating to a site/project.Recording Photographic Results
Archaeological photography is discussed in detail in
chapter 10. However, it is worth emphasising a few
important points regarding how photography relates to
the artefacts and the project itself.
A record of all the photographs taken on any dive should
be made on a log sheet for the project. This is essential,Figure 8.4 Section through a gully on the wreck of El Gran
Grifon(1588). The stratigraphy is as follows: 1) mobile stones
and shingle; 2) partially stable stones and shingle with
organic staining; 3) a bronze gun in contact with level 4;
4) concretion level with abrading top surface and loose
lead shot also present; 5) organic sludge, deriving from
pre-1588 weed; 6) pre-1588 deposit of stones and shingle.
(Colin Martin)