178 ARCHAEOLOGICALILLUSTRATION
Lastly, it is important to avoid misleading additions or
omissions. A total absence of stippling on the surface of
a pot drawn with beautifully smooth sides might suggest
a fine fabric and possibly a wheel-turned production. If,
however, the vessel is in fact made of rough fabric and is
asymmetrical then this should be indicated in the drawn
record. Similarly, avoid putting hard lines where none exist
on the object. The process of drawing involves a certain
amount of decision making but if an edge is rounded it
should be drawn as such. If a junction or feature is not
clear and sharp, dotted and broken lines can be used to
describe it in preference to a solid line, which suggests a
definite boundary.
POST-FIELDWORK PHOTOGRAPHY AND LASER
SCANNING
Alternative or additional techniques for post-fieldwork
recording of artefacts include photography (see chapter
10) and laser scanning. Laser scanning uses a sophisticated
combination of mirrors, cameras and lasers to record the
surface detail of objects, structures and landscapes. A tri-
angulation laser-scanner uses mirrors to move the laser
over the surface of an object. As the surface deforms the
laser stripe, the camera records the shape of the laser line.
This allows the surface of small objects to be recorded
and stored digitally on a computer (figure 18.16). Larger
structures, such as entire vessels, can be scanned using time-
of-flight laser scanners, which simply bounce laser pulses
off the object millions of times to build up a map of the
structure (figure 18.17).PRESENTING A RANGE OF COMPLEX
INFORMATION
Isometric and axonometric representations: A drawing
method commonly used in presenting structural informa-
tion is a projection (possibly isometric or axonometric).Figure 18.13 Two pairs of brass dividers from the Dart-
mouth(1690), of different designs. Front and side views of
each instrument are shown, with sections where appropri-
ate. Stippling is used to convey details and the matted
surface of the metal. (Colin Martin)
Figure 18.14 A more complex pot. Here the throwing lines
on the outside are more pronounced, and the top of the
vessel is glazed. Some of the glaze has dribbled down the
side, and this has been indicated by variable dotting. Cut
and stamped lines run around the upper part, and the foot
has been thumbed into a ‘pie crust’ form after throwing.
Simple techniques have been used to convey these features
within the general conventions of pottery drawing. (Colin
Martin)