The School of Jack

[Unitof1]

I dont think that you need a camera to record a site...

[barkingdigger]

Possibly, but they are handy to gather "proof" of the things you draw and describe...

[Unitof1]

so if you dont have a camera what an archaeologist records is not true?

[BAJR]

I have seen Units photos... I can't believe them either

[kevin wooldridge]

I dont think that you need a camera to record a site...

I hope all curators are quickly consulting their standard brief to ensure that it has reference to the archaeological record including a photographic element in appropriate format....

[Dinosaur]

I've been pushing for watercolours for years - in a lot of those old reports yer painting actually shows what was going on in 3D, as opposed to an awful lot of modern published photos and plans/sections where its all a bit 2D and gives the impression that most archaeology is 'flat'. A painting is perhaps less 'scientific' but much more understandable to the ultimate 'client' (i.e. the public). Most modern science was based on people carrying a sketch book and some paints during 'the Age of Discovery'.

[barkingdigger]

If you want it in 3D, surely we should all carry bags of modelling clay? For a bonus, your scale model of a pit can be excavated by Morphe!

As for photo records, they say a picture is worth a thousand words. Of course, with some site photography I've seen those words cannot be repeated before the watershed...

[Dinosaur]

Some? .....

[Jack]

so if you dont have a camera what an archaeologist records is not true?

The school of Jack is pleased that UO1 is back. Thank you for you question, that seemed to appear several times further back in the narrative....are you spreading through the forum like a virus?

A camera/ video camera is a vital part of archaeological recording. Without it no one has the opportunity to critically assess the drawn sections and plans.
Also in the world of commercial archaeology section drawing is often stylised with important detail like every stone present not being drawn in every case. Once the feature is destroyed this and other information is lost forever. A photograph is a back up to avoid archaeologists of the future thinking we are nothing better than treasure hunters....

'If only they had taken photos, these 2-D empty line-drawn sketches are useless!'

[RedEarth]

The school of Jack is pleased that UO1 is back. Thank you for you question, that seemed to appear several times further back in the narrative....are you spreading through the forum like a virus?


'If only they had taken photos, these 2-D empty line-drawn sketches are useless!'

Unit does appear to be back, only as a time traveller who can somehow add comments to discussions from days ago. Unfortunately, and this is probably going to upset Jack, I think this must mean he is Dr Who.

PS If your 2D empty line drawings are that bad then yes they will be useless. The same as photos. I would never rely on the latter to make sense of anything, and I certainly would want to live in the world of fear and retribution you describe where someone might look at a photo, realise a stone was missing (gasp, shock, horror), and think badly of your abilities.