PDF can be downloaded for free from University of Groningen website.
This guide explains the drawing of artefacts in its various aspects. It treats the drawing of complete vessels, potsherds and other artefacts, as well as their marking with numbers, scanning of and photographing.
Free PDF
The pdf can be downloaded for free from here.
Dutch version
We have also published a Dutch version of this manual: Handleiding Archeologisch Tekenen, with ISBN 9789491431838, https://www.barkhuis.nl/product/handleiding-archeologisch-tekenen/.
Introduction 1
Why drawing rather than photography or 3-D scanning? 1
Tools 1
Drawing complete vessels 2
Drawing complete vessels 2
Measuring the width of a vessel 2
Measuring the height of a vessel 2
The vertical centre line of the vessel, and the position of any handle 2
Positioning the section 3
Drawing a section with a contour gauge and calliper 3
Drawing the full outline of the vessel 3
Drawing the base of the vessel 3
Drawing the frontal view 4
Measuring, looking and feeling 4
Drawing decorations and other special features 4
Examples from publications 4
Drawing potsherds 6
Drawing potsherds and reconstructing vessels 6
The purpose of reconstruction 6
Finding the correct position 6
Determining the diameter of the original vessel 7
Marking the diameter in your drawing 7
Determining the height of the sherd 7
Drawing the section side 8
Measuring the thickness of the sherd 8
Drawing the frontal view of a sherd 8
Drawing the frontal view of a sherd in a partial reconstruction 8
Drawing outcurved rims 9
Completing the frontal view of the sherd 9
Drawing broken surfaces 9
Drawing sherds with an undeterminable diameter 9
Drawing sherds without rims 10
Conveying the maximum information 10
Examples from publications 10
Drawing bases 11
Drawing coloured slip coatings 11
Examples from publications 11
Drawing other artefacts 12
Drawing other artefacts, such as metalwork or flints 12
Drawing the outline of an object 12
Completing the outline drawing 12
Filling out the drawing 13
Joining the dots into a line drawing 14
Drawing sections of objects 14
Drawing sections – why? 14
Completing the drawing 15
Examples from publications 15
Marking and scanning 16
Marking objects 16
Inking your drawings 16
Scanning drawings 16
Photographing objects 17
Photographing objects 17
Prerequisites for taking good photographs 17
Using a photographic set-up 17
Editing images in Adobe Photoshop 17
Diameter paper 19