BRIEF ESSAY ON THE USE OF IMAGES IN ARCHAEOLOGICAL PUBLICATIONS: THE REPRESENTATION OF LITHIC ARTIFACTS

CECILIA MERCURI

Río Cuarto

Congreso; Segundo Congreso Nacional de Arte Rupestre 2016; 2016

Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Facultad de Ciencias Humanas, Departamento de Historia, Laboratorio de Arqueología y Etnohistoria

In archaeology, as part of investigations recordingprocess pictures are taken and illustrations made from the time field survey isproceeding. So, graphic representations are present since the beginning ofresearch (even more if we take into account all of the previous informationthat we should compile such as maps). Photo has been (and is) used as animpartial graphic method. However, for a number of reasons this is not so, andin our case illustrations replace photography as means of clarification (toimprove the observation of details). So, drawing is then constituted as apre-established communication code. Now, is all these made in terms ofimpartiality in the transmission of scientific knowledge? Or rather on thebasis of highlighting certain features that support research goals andhypothesis?In this paper I?m to look into this last aspect bymaking a brief tour through the use of lithic artifacts images in severalnational publications.