Page 296 - Green - Maritime Archaeology: A Technical Handbook. 2nd ed

Chapter 10
Recording
I. INTRODUCTION
Recording information and data either during a survey or an excavation is surprisingly difficult to do in a systematic manner and often information is lost. In this section, artifact recording, both on site and after recovery, and the subsequent management of the artifact and its record are discussed. The artifact record enables the excavator to identify an object and locate its position of discovery on the site and to obtain quickly and efficiently all up- to-date catalog and record details. This can then be used by the archaeolo- gist in the process of the research related to each object. Thus, when it is time for the archaeological analysis, the data are available in a systematic form.
The record is also important for the efficient management of a collec- tion. From the time an object is recovered, throughout field storage, trans- portation to the central repository, preconservation storage, during the conservation process, into long-term storage, and then possibly onto display in a museum, there is a need to know where the object is and what is happening to it.
II. RECORDING DURING EXCAVATION
On a site where only a small quantity of material is being collected by the excavators during the working day, it is usually possible to carry away from the site the unregistered material, together with the written records,
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