Archaeology Underwater: The NAS Guide to Principles and Practice

184 POST-FIELDWORKANALYSIS AND ARCHIVING

Other maps or drawings can be added. These might
include maps showing the nature of the local geology, maps
showing the site’s location relative to other similar sites
in the same country or abroad and distribution maps or
plans to aid discussion of the site’s general significance.

Finished drawings of field-recording: Producing
finished illustrations from section drawings and site
surveys made in the field is not a process of enhancement
or an opportunity for embellishment. However, con-
ventions and styles of presentation may be found which
greatly improve the clarity of drawings. This is entirely
legitimate and should be encouraged if it does not obscure
or distort the original information. Decorative borders do
little to make up for badly recorded evidence. Similarly,
detailed renderings of cannon and anchors which bear
no resemblance to those actually on the site are best
avoided.
When inking-in section drawings, remember that bound-
aries between contexts are rarely precise. Therefore solid
lines should be avoided in favour of broken lines or stip-
pling. Conventions can be used for clarity when showing
different sediment types. It is common practice to offer

a record drawing of the section alongside an interpre-

tative drawing, where solid boundary lines are shown, to

aid clarity in discussion (figure 19.3).

Each plan, section or overlay should include sufficient

information for it to be usable by others. For example:

• Site name and code, together with the record num-
  ber of the drawing and the date drawn.


• Subject (plan or section of what).


• A clearly marked linear scale (in proportion to the
  drawing, so that it is visible but not intrusive).


• Position (site-grid coordinate on plans; reference
  to plan on which position of section is indicated).
  The grid coordinates used should be consistent
  throughout the project (see chapter 11).


• Orientation (true or magnetic north on plans and
  maps; the direction exposed sections face on section
  drawings).


• Key to symbols used.

Although it has rarely been indicated on archaeolo-

gical drawings in the past, archaeologists should be more

honest about the value of their survey, and so it is

Figure 19.3 Interpreted (A) and ‘naturalistic’ (B) representations of the same section prepared for publication. (Drawing
by Kit Watson)