Bone Maps

In addition to recording items on the field data forms, you will be making a drawn map of all bones in you excavation unit. All maps are drawn at a 1:10 scale (1cm on the map = 10 cm on the ground) -- this means that each of your meter square maps will be a 10x10 cm square. When you begin a map, first use a staight edge and draw the meter boundaries, and lable the corners of your square with their metric coordinates. Orient the map so that north will be toward the of the page with holes for the 3-hole binder on the left. In the unit map example shown here, the corners are labled with N1026, N1027 and E882, E883.

Next include the site name, site number, and the BLK and Unit designation of your square. Add the STRAT designation, the date you began the map, and your official initials.

Be sure that you have a north arrow and scale on the map. Number each map from your excavation unit sequentially.

Now you are ready to draw the item on the map. All bones must be drawn to scale and they should look like the object being drawn. In order to get the bones in the right location, first use the EDM and shoot the provenience points (PRO points) for the object. Then firnd and lightly mark the PRO points on the map grid. Now you can "connect the dots" and draw the bone. Finnally, right the bone number off to the side of the map and connect it with its object with a straight line (use a straight edge).

We don't want you to crowd lots of things on a single map -- once you reach a point where you can't draw an object on the map, make and number a new map and continue you mapping on the new map.