Archaeology Underwater: The NAS Guide to Principles and Practice

176 ARCHAEOLOGICALILLUSTRATION

the pencil tip, and draws around the object keeping
directly above the pencil point and object edge. Accurate
outlines can be drawn in this way, particularly for fairly
flat objects with well-defined edges, but it requires con-
siderable practice and the results should be very carefully
checked by measurement. A slight misalignment of the pen-
cil, object edge or eye can produce significant errors.
If the illustrator has access to a copy-camera with pre-
cise reduction and enlargement facilities, flat objects or
materials may be photographed on the copy-camera
screen and printed to the desired size. The printed image
can then be placed beneath draughting film to be used
as a basis for the line drawing. If this method is used,
it is essential that a series of individual check measure-
ments is made to ensure that the alteration in scale is
accurate. A variety of pieces of equipment are available
to aid the recording of outlines (e.g. flexi-curves and
profile gauges) but they do not record the finer details

of shape if used carelessly. With practice, however, they

are useful tools (figure 18.10).

RECORDING DECORATION AND SURFACE

DETAIL

Once the outline and dimensions of an object have been

accurately recorded and checked, surface detail can be

added. Again this should be done through a process of

careful observation and measurement. Tracings from

carefully scaled photographs can be used to illustrate

complex decoration and the outlines of objects can be

recorded in the same way. Careful attention should be paid

to reproducing decoration and deliberately applied sur-

face detail accurately (figure 18.11). Others may want to

use drawings as a means of comparing with archaeolo-

gical material elsewhere and, therefore, small details of style

and shape may be important.

A number of methods for representing three-dimensional

shape and decoration exist. Stippling (a series of dots) and

linear shading are used widely and conventions exist in

terms of the way that various features are represented.

Looking at a wide range of published work will enable

familiarization with these conventions and the way that

Figure 18.8 Thickness-gauge callipers can be useful in
determining a pot’s section. (Photo: Edward Martin)

0 5 cm

Figure 18.9 Following convention, the spout of this jug has
been shown on the left and details of the way in which it
was attached to the vessel can be seen in the drawing.
Additional views of the spout could be added if required.
(Based on original artwork by Ben Ferrari)

Figure 18.10 Profile gauges can provide a quick way of

checking the shape of an object but they can easily dam-

age delicate surfaces and should only be used on robust

items. Their use is not generally recommended in record-

ing small finds (for which better techniques are available),

but they can be useful for recording features such as the

mouldings on guns. (Photo: Colin Martin)