AEB_A11 Documentation Techniques

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2024
Extent and Intensity
0/0/0. 3 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
Taught in person.
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Soňa Plchová (lecturer)
Mgr. Jan Šeiner (lecturer)
Mgr. Vojtěch Nosek, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Guaranteed by
Mgr. Soňa Plchová
Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Jitka Šibíčková
Supplier department: Department of Archaeology and Museology – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Fri 9:00–11:40 M12, except Fri 19. 4.
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.

The capacity limit for the course is 14 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 11/14, only registered: 0/14
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
there are 16 fields of study the course is directly associated with, display
Course objectives
The objective of the course is to make the students familiar with techniques of documentation of archaeological artefacts – drawings, photographs, 3D documentation.
The first part of the course is focused on the principles of documentary drawings of archaeological finds for excavation reports and publications.
Practical training is mainly targeted at technical aspects of documentary drawings of artefacts (archaeological finds from various materials: ceramics, stone, metal, glass, organic substances).
Theoretical and practical knowledge of the basics of photographic documentation with the help of digital camera.
In the end of the course, students will learn about advanced methods of spatial documentation of archaeological finds – 3D scanning and photogrammetry.
Learning outcomes
After completion of the course, the student shall:
- know the basic principles of pictorial documentation of archaeological artefacts
- know the principles of documentation of the most important types of artefacts from various materials (mainly ceramics, metal and stone)
- create by oneself a documentary drawing of an artefact
- digitise drawings properly and carry out basic editing of scans in graphic software
- create a plate with drawings in a form and quality suitable for publishing
- be knowledgeable in photographic and 3D documentation of artefacts
- create by oneself a documentary photo of an elementary artefact
Syllabus
  • 1. Documentation techniques in archaeology – informative overview and basic principles. Fundamentals of documentary drawings. Important terms: views, cross-sections, reduction/enlargement of drawings, measuring scale.
  • 2.-4. Documentary drawings of ceramic vessels and their fragments: various types of decoration, handles, drawing reconstruction.
  • 5.-6. Documentary drawings of lithic artefacts (chipped and polished stone industry). Digitisation of drawings and the principles of creating plates with drawings for publication.
  • 7.-8. Documentary drawings of metal artefacts (iron, bronze and precious metals)
  • 9. Documentary drawings of artefacts from glass and from organic substances.
  • 10.-11. The basics of photographic documentation of archaeological artefacts.
  • 12.-13. The basics of spatial documentation of archaeological artefacts.
  • 14. Completion: written test and submission of final plates with illustrations and photos, credit.
Literature
    recommended literature
  • GAWRYSIAK-LESZCYŃSKA, Wiesława. Jak rysować zabytki archeologiczne : podstawowe zasady dokumentacji. Edited by Danuta Jaskanis. Gąsava: Biskupin, 2003, 195 s. ISBN 839154902X. info
  • GRIFFITHS, N. – JENNER, A. – WILSON, Ch.: Drawing Archaeological Finds. A Handbook. Salisbury 1990.
  • ADKINS, L. – ADKINS, R. A.: Archaeological Illustration. Cambridge 1989 (2009)
    not specified
  • e-skripta PLCHOVÁ, S.: Kresebná dokumentace archeologických artefaktů: Pravidla a zásady. Metody a postupy - dostupno v kurzu e-learningové podpory k předmětu Dokumentační techniky https://elf.phil.muni.cz/23-24/course/view.php?id=7767
  • NERUDOVÁ, Z.: Způsoby dokumentace štípané industrie, SPFFBU M 8-9 (2003-2004), s. 53-64.
  • KRAJÍC, Rudolf. Sezimovo Ústí : archeologie středověkého poddanského města. Praha: Archeologický ústav AV ČR, 2003, 316 s. ISBN 8086566145. info
  • KRAJÍC, Rudolf. Sezimovo Ústí : archeologie středověkého poddanského města. Praha: Archeologický ústav AV ČR, 2003, 194 s. ISBN 8086566153. info
  • • DORRELL, Peter G. Photography in archaeology and conservation. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1994. Cambridge manuals in archaeology. ISBN 0-521-45554-5.
  • McCARTHY, John: Multi-image photogrammetry as a practical tool for cultural heritage survey and community engagement, In Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 43, 2014, Pages 175-185, ISSN 0305-4403, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2014.01.010
  • KARASIK, Avshalom - SMILANSKY, Uzy: 3D scanning technology as a standard archaeological tool for pottery analysis: practice and theory, In Journal of Archaeological Science, Volume 35, Issue 5, 2008, Pages 1148-1168, ISSN 0305-4403
Teaching methods
Working with archaeological finds, lectures with illustrative examples and practical training – basic principles, procedures and methods of documentation.
Practical training: documentary drawings of objects from the departmental collections. Homework: final drawings, digitisation and processing into the final plate (consultations).
Theoretical and practical knowledge of basic concepts, principles and methods of photographic documentation of artefacts (digital camera). In the end of the course, students will learn about the basic methods of 3D modelling through the medium of photogrammetry and 3D scanning.
E-learning: courses in drawing, photographic and 3D documentation (only czech languague).
Assessment methods
Requirements for the course-unit credit:
- active participation in the seminar work
- completion of a complementary e-learning course
- written test
- submission of the final plate with at least 6 drawings in appropriate print quality (categories: ceramic - whole vessel, potsherd, decor, reconstruction; metal object, stone industry)
- submission of the final photo-table in appropriate print quality: at least 1 artefact in at least 2 views (possible choice of categories: whole vessel, potsherd, metal object, stone industry)
Language of instruction
Czech
Follow-Up Courses
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Study Materials
The course is taught each semester.
Information on the extent and intensity of the course: 30 hodin praktické výuky.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
https://elf.phil.muni.cz/23-24/course/view.php?id=7767
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2019, Spring 2020, Autumn 2020, Spring 2021, Autumn 2021, Spring 2022, Autumn 2022, Spring 2023, Autumn 2023, Autumn 2024, Spring 2025.
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