Archaeological Register

General characterization

Prerequisites

N/A

Bibliography

Bicho, Nuno. 2011. Manual de Arqueologia Pré-histórica, Lisboa: Edições 70.

Brodribb, Conant. 1970. Drawing archaeological finds for publication. London: John Baker

Griffiths, Nick; Jenner, Anne; Wilson, Christine. 1990. Drawing archaeological finds: a handbook. 1st ed. [S. l.]: Archetype Publications

Lemos, M. (2009). Historiografia do Desenho Arqueológico enquanto técnica aplicada à Arqueologia, Instituto politécnico de Tomar

Lima, L. C. F. 2007. O Desenho como Substituto do Objecto: Descrição Científica nas Imagens do Desenho e Materiais Arqueológicos. Tese de mestrado. Faculdade de Belas Artes da Universidade do Porto **

Madeira, J. L. 2013. O desenho na Arqueologia, Coimbra: Instituto de Arqueologia da Faculdade de Letras, 2a Edição **

Massiorini, M.; Brito, C. de. 1982. Ver pelo desenho: aspetos técnicos, cognitivos, comunicativos. Lisboa: Edições 70 *

Nascimento, P. (2022). O papel do desenho arqueológico na arqueologia. Complementaridade entre o tradicional e o tecnológico. Almadan 25, 2, pp. 82-88. **

Page del Pozo, V.; Acosta Malo, M.J. (2002) Experiências didáticas del Museo del Cigarralejo (Mula, Murcia). V El dibujo arqueológico. Ayuntamiento de Mula. **

Raposo, L. (2019).A última desenhadora do Museu Nacional de Arqueologia? Jornal Público, Terça-feira, 16 de Julho, p. 33. **

Roskams, S. 2001. Excavation, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge Manuals in Archaeology.

Sebastian, L. 2012. A componente de desenho cerâmico na intervenção arqueológica no Mosteiro de S. João de Tarouca: desenvolvimento da aplicação específica ao caso da faiança. Al-madan, 17(NA), pp. 101-118. *

Sousa, Fernanda. 1999. Introdução ao desenho arqueológico. Almada: Câmara Municipal de Almada, Museu Municipal *

Steiner, M. (2005). Approaches to Archaeological Illustration: A Handbook. Practical Handbooks in Archaeology, No 18. Council for British Archaeology. Association of Archaeological Illustrators and Surveyors.

Teaching method

Theoretical-practical classes supported by audiovisual information, drawing manuals and case studies. The classes include practical exercises that introduce the different methods used in archaeological recording and promote experimentation monitored in class. Teaching will focus on the development of methodology and good practices related to the documentation and representation of the archaeological record: ceramics, glass, metals, organics, planimetry, lithic pieces, etc. Therefore, it will not be necessary to memorize many concepts, but it will be necessary to follow the practical work that is proposed. Practice implies mastering a wide range of methods that the student will have at their disposal through the materials that will be distributed. 

Evaluation method

Attendance and behavior in class, interaction with the teacher and colleagues in a positive and collaborative way, contributing to the good collective atmosphere of the class are evaluated. The timely completion of the tasks proposed for both the class and the final portfolio, on a date to be set, will be assessed. Assessment is continuous and consists of class participation, completing the exercises proposed throughout the semester and presenting a final portfolio. The portfolios with drawings and final artwork may consist of ceramic, lithic, organic, metal or wood materials and a planimetry of a wall or structure elevation to be defined in class with the teachers.

Evaluation criteria in class: Completion of small drawing challenges, answers to questions, discussion of publications. Performance in class is assessed as a whole.
Assessment criteria in the portfolio: The drawings presented will be assessed in their scientific component for the correctness of measurements and/or scale, orientation of the pieces, additional information, legends, coherent definition of coding. The graphic component will be assessed on the quality of the line and mastery of the reproduction of textures.

THE FINAL ASSESSMENT

1. Final exam attendance 

2. PORTFOLIO presentation

This will take the form of a short presentation in class, maximum 10 minutes, by each student:
The oral presentation should have 5/6 slides maximum (10 minutes).

Each portfolio presentation must contain:
- Presentation of the student.

- Presentation of the type of materials chosen and the reason for this choice.

- Presentation of the designs as a whole.

- Choosing a piece from the portfolio that you like best, that has represented the greatest challenge or that has interesting characteristics to be presented, justifying the choices made in the design and its final appearance.

- A drawing of the structure or elevation with sketch and description.

- Thanks to organizations or archaeologists for providing pieces or access to sites.

The portfolio must then be submitted via the Inforestudante platform in digital format (PDF).

 

THE PDF PORTFOLIO SHOULD CONTAIN:

The student's identification
The set of attached drawings.
A brief description of the pieces and their archaeological context.

 

EVALUATION (dates to be scheduled in class):

Attendance and participation in class (20%)

Oral presentation of portfolio (25%).
Delivery of a PDF portfolio comprising 4 drawings of pieces made in class + inking (25%).
Attendance test (30%)

Subject matter

 

Archaeological drawing is a basic tool for archaeological work. Since archaeology is a visual discipline, the archaeological record is absolutely essential for any interpretation, whether of a site or of the material culture associated with it. As a universal language, it allows the exchange of scientific information between archaeologists, regardless of their nationality or language. The scientific record not only makes it possible to reproduce a reality, but also helps to clarify the contexts or artifacts under study, since it complements the textual interpretation and also contains theory, interpretation and hypothesis. Archaeological drawings also work as a means of comparing, organizing and classifying the materials recovered, and should always be included in any type of publication on archaeological interventions.

This is a skill required of the archaeological community, essential for research, but also for communication between peers and society in general. During this semester we will work on cases of visual representation in archaeology and implement best practices for recording archaeological materials. In this discipline few concepts need to be memorized and it is better to reason than to memorize. Practice involves mastering a wide range of methods often linked to information technologies. We will therefore focus our efforts on topics such as the design of archaeological pieces (also in the digital sphere), the creation of digital planimetries of archaeological elements and sites.

 

PROGRAMME

1. Origin of archaeological drawing. From the first 19th century illustrations to 21st century digital illustration
2. What archaeological materials are and why they are recorded
3. Handling the pieces and drawing preparation procedures
4. The sketch and annotated drawing
5. Photography with scale.
6. Drawing to scale
7. Drawing materials.
8. Ceramics registration techniques
9. Glass registration techniques
10. Metal registration techniques
11. Wood registration techniques
12. Leather registration techniques
13. Bone registration techniques
14. Digitized drawing
15. Final artwork. Presentation of drawings for publication and report
16. Photography as an integral part of drawing
17. Three-dimensional drawing
18. Dotted and shaded techniques. Textures
19. Documentation and representation in archaeology: how, why and for what.
20. Basic concepts of geometry, instrumentation and representation techniques.
21. Topographical documentation on a territorial scale.

22. Drawing Structures
22. Archaeological planimetry.
23. Photography and photogrammetry.

24.Final art in Adobe Illustrator and Virtualization in Archaeology.

Programs

Programs where the course is taught: