ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD DRAWING

- Angelina Manjit
 ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD DRAWING
Archaeological field drawing is the definitive and practical method to carry out
drawing on archaeological sites.
OBJECTIVE:
To develop basic observational drawing skills (archaeological field drawing) to
enhance the study of natural or man- made forms and an introduction to the
digitisation of drawings. In other words, to be able to plot the coordinates of any
object in an archaeological site unto paper and further digitise it.

FIELD REPORT:
Instruments required for field work-
1. Magnetic Compass (1)
2. String
3. Nails (5)
4. Hammer (2 preferably)
5. Measuring Tapes (2)

Instruments required for field drawing-

1. Chart paper to mark
2. Geometry Compass
3. 1:20 reduction scale
4. Linear scale
5. Pencil
6. Eraser

Location: Social Sciences Block, HCU Campus

Procedure:
1. The location chosen for the field drawing was steered clear of waste materials
like leaves, sticks and small stones so that the readings may not be hampered.
2. North South direction was marked by placing the magnetic compass on the
ground and stretching a string to pass over it corresponding to the north south
direction accurately. Then the string was carefully hammered to the ground
unto a nail on the both the directions. It was important to firmly hammer the
nail to the ground and to fasten the string tightly around the nail in order to
avoid any shifting of the nail or the string during the whole process.
3. Distance of 10 metres was marked on the string using measuring tape, keeping
in mind to cover the complete area of the stones placed on the location. The
extreme end of the string was marked N facing north and the other end was
marked S facing south.
4. Then the centre point O was marked at a distance of 5 metres using measuring
tape from the point N (north) or from point S (south). This was to act as the
control point in order to assist the readings later in the experiment.
5. Taking 6 metres using two measuring tapes from both N and S, point W
(west) was marked at the intersection points and nail was dug to the ground;
and similarly 7 metres was taken from both N and S to mark E (east). Same
length was taken from N and S in order to get a perpendicular line cutting
across the N S line. These points W and E were to act as control points in the
experiment.
6. After marking the five control points, measurements of the stones were to be
taken.

Measurement of the stones:

Measurement of the stones was done in clockwise direction in order to maintain

continuity and avoid confusion. The method used was Triangulation Method/
Trilateral method. Care was taken to note only the extreme ends of the stones and
that measurement was taken only when a proper triangle was formed from any
two control points and the point on the stone which was being noted. This was
followed for all the stones and the accurate measurement on the metre scale till
two decimal points was noted.

Stone 1-
Using two measuring tapes from O and N points, intersection of the tapes at the
extreme points of the stone were noted.

CENTRE (O) in metres NORTH (N) in metres

2.62 3.65
2.66 3.38
2.45 3.43
2.40 3.68

Stone 2-
Using two measuring tapes from O and W points, intersection of the tapes at the
extreme points of the stone were noted.

CENTRE (O) in metres WEST (W) in metres

2.61 3.84
2.81 3.95
2.86 4.22
2.63 4.10

Stone 3-
Using two measuring tapes from O and E points, intersection of the tapes at the
extreme points of the stone were noted.

CENTRE (O) in metres EAST (E) in metres

2.62 4.88
2.81 5.00
2.97 4.70
2.80 4.59
Stone 4-
Using two measuring tapes from O and E points, intersection of the tapes at the
extreme points of the stone were noted.

CENTRE (O) in metres EAST (E) in metres

2.64 3.11
2.84 3.12
3.14 2.69
2.89 2.63
2.61 2.90
2.65 3.15

Stone 5-
Using two measuring tapes from O and S points, intersection of the tapes at the
extreme points were noted.

CENTRE (O) in metres SOUTH(S) in metres

2.85 5.55
3.16 5.55
3.16 5.35
2.98 5.13

Stone 6-
Using two measuring tapes from O and S points, intersection of the tapes at the
extreme points were noted.

CENTRE (O) in metres SOUTH (S) in metres

3.77 3.30
3.86 3.46
4.05 3.47
4.13 3.31
4.04 3.15
3.86 3.14

Plotting:
1. On the right hand top corner, information like-
Date- 13th March’09
Location- SSB, HCU Campus
↑ North Point
Scale – 1:20
was written by hand.
2. From left hand edge of the paper three equidistant points were marked and
joined to get a straight line which was marked as the N S line.
3. Using 1:20 scale, marked 10 metres on the N S line which showed the N
 and S points.
4. Marked the centre as point O.
5. Plotted west point (W) taking 6 metres each from N and S points.
6. Drew a straight line joining point W and O extending to east side.
7. Measured on ground the distance between O and E, which came to be 4.89
metres.
8. Then plotted that distance on paper using the 1:20 scale. ( this was done
because the maximum distance which could be reduced onto the paper was 6
metres and on ground we had taken 7 metres)
9. Using ordinary linear scale marked the points E, joining O and W.
10. After plotting directions on paper, the stones were plotted in clock wise
direction starting from stone no.1 to stone no.6. We used the geometry
compass and reduced the actual distance on to 1:20 scale and marked all the
points of the stone.
11. Post plotting each stone, the points were joined using free-hand and were
numbered too.
12. Then we drew the reduction scale (towards the middle) measuring only 2
metres on the field drawing sheet, this was done for the convenience during
the digitisation process.
13. Finally we wrote all the measurements of the stones we had taken on the right
hand side of the drawing sheet.
14. Then the field drawing was ready to be photographed and for digitisation later.