ARCHAEOLOGICALRECORDING 61
as many details of pictures will often be known only by
the photographer and may easily be forgotten in the
future. Experience has shown that it is best to make brief
notes when possible about the photographs while still under
water, and then write up the log sheet soon after the dive.
The documentation will then be finished when the
results have been downloaded, or the film has been
developed and the exact frame or image numbers are
known. Each sequence of shots should be numbered and
dated, with the name of the photographer, the type of cam-
era, its number (if more than one is used), whether the
shot was black and white or colour, and any other tech-
nical aspects, such as resolution (for digital cameras),
f-stops, lens type, etc. Of course, the most important
information is the subject matter for each shot, but the
angle of view, the orientation and the area being pho-
tographed are also important for cross-referencing, and
need to be recorded on the photographic log. Specific tech-
nical information regarding each camera can be recorded
separately from the logs and act as the baseline dataset,
which is particularly necessary for recording the test
exposures of a site, and especially when using film.
Even when using a digital camera, it is important
to record the technical details: type and make of camera,
lens setting, flash or not, resolution (in terms of dots
per inch or pixel-by-pixel file size), macro or 35 mm or
telephoto lens. These details will allow tracking of the source
if any distortions appear in the shots. These images can
be noted in the database (see below) as a link to the image
file. Artefact photographs for the database should include
the site code, artefact number and a scale.
Video footage (digital or analogue) should be dealt with
in a similar way but also requires a written description of
the subject, especially if there is not a verbal commentary.
It is easy to be disoriented in murky waters, and one
close-up of a timber can look very much like any other.
A log of the video footage should be compiled on a
running-time basis, with each tape numbered and dated,
with time-coding and subject annotation, as this will
also be of great value when editing. When preparing the
edited version of a video survey it is essential to note which
tapes the footage was taken from and store this informa-
tion with the edited compilation. If someone later sees
an area of interest, then the video footage can be easily
traced to the specific tape which might show more detail.
Mark the video cassettes and the boxes clearly so that
if they are separated the tape is still easily identifiable.
Ensure the tapes are stored appropriately. In the case of
digital footage, the following information should be
included: the resolution, file size, compression type and
media type (i.e. mpg, mpg2, avi files).
Be sure to download and check each video on a
generic computer (whether Mac or PC) to ensure that the
camera coding has not failed. This should be done before
the end of the project, so that if something is not good,
or has become corrupted, the recording process can
be repeated. When storing each digital video sequence,
include an appropriate ‘reader’ (i.e. the software that can
play back the recording). Technology changes too fast
to be complacent about this step.Conservation Records
Once in the conservation laboratory, or on-site base,
recording/registration of each find must take place before
embarking on any treatments. Copies of records will be
needed for reference during treatment, especially if con-
servation is being carried out by specialist laboratories.
Details of how the object was stored while awaiting
transport to the conservation facility must be noted,
along with details of any on-site initial treatment.
Prior to undertaking conservation treatments, or
before the long-term storage of un-conserved objects, it
is essential that objects or assemblages of objects be pho-
tographed with a scale and label. A small thumbnail or
contact-print of the artefact should be attached to the
record cards or added to the database record to aid
identification. A full record of all the treatments applied
to an object should be kept. Almost all objects will
require further treatment in the future and this will be
more effective if the conservator knows the detailed his-
tory of the item including the specific solutions, adhesives,
chemicals or solvents employed. Chapter 16 looks in
detail at archaeological conservation.Identifying Archaeological Material
All archaeological material identified on an archaeologi-
cal site should be assigned a unique number. In certain
circumstances, such as a group of identical objects (e.g.
musket balls found together), a single group or collection
number may be assigned. Finds should be allocated their
unique number at the earliest opportunity.
The project-numbering system for finds should be
as simple as possible, but include the site code, the year,
the artefact number, and possibly the trench name. For
example, [SHIP00 A001] would represent ‘Scarborough
Harbour International Project, 2000, Artefact 001’. All
numbers should be assigned to an object because gaps in
numbering can lead to confusion during post-excavation
analysis. A ‘number register’ or master list should be kept
for each project so as to record when a number is not used,
lost, or voided. The last number used should also be
clearly noted on the master list. A string with pre-
numbered garden tags is an effective way of keeping track
of which numbers have and have not been used. These