The Grammar of the Archaeological Record
2. The Manual

7. Procedures

Giorgio Buccellati – June 2010

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7.1: Procedures for processing photo files

[TEXT TO BE WRITTEN; ZGz05 mDP]

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7.1.1: Download

Download twice the photos from the card – once to the current VD folder, and a second time to the DeepVD folder.

The DeepVD folder is not be used again. Subfolders should be moved regularly to a CD or DVD.

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7.1.2: Selection

The photographer must go through the photos and select the best ones. Once selection is complete, a caret (^) must be added in front of the folder name.

For the unit views, this should be done together with the excavators.

For objects and incidentals, the photographer will use his or her discretion, but for objects it is advisable that someone else assist in the selection (mKB or the excavators)

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7.1.3: Cropping

It is at this time, too, that cropping or if needed color correction may take place.

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7.1.4: V Folder

The person in charge of file management will copy the selected files to the appropriate V folders on Plato (V18d.., V18u.., etc.), directly under G [It would be desirable to have a HiRes folder, but do not use unless the LoRes/TN batch file is changed.]

Once this is done, a second caret (^) must be added in front of the folder name. As a result, processed folders will be identified by a double caret (^^).

Leave careted subfolders in main folder and do not create a separate folder such as V18-VDP-Processed.

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7.1.5: LoRes/TN

The same file manager will then run the LoRes/TN batch file. In addition, the same batch file runs automatically at night.

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7.1.6: VWX Program

After the LoRes/TN batch file has been run, the file manager runs the VWX program. The J files that are generated by the VWX program must then be placed on the exogen folder of the individual units, on Socrates\public.

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7.1.7: Import

The excavators must import the pertinent LoRes and TN V folders (i.e., those that pertain to their unit) to the MZ\A folder on their computer, and J-files from exogen to their J folder. They will then run the JD program.

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7.2: How To: U Photography

O620 fAB

U Photography is named after “unit” indicating the photos are taken by the individuals in a unit (often with their own cameras) instead of the photographer. In general this occurs when the photographer is busy at the moment or the shot does not require the high resolution or framing that the photographers shots have; this means that it is still preferable to have the photographer take a picture. U photos are still a part of the published record, so must be well studied and prepared shots.

The V17 directories with digital imagery are five: d digital, k kite, p print, m movie and u unit. Inside these directories there are blocks of numbers set aside for each unit’s field and object photography. For example, J1 may have V17d01 to d05 assigned for field photos and d06 to d09 for object photos. This numbering sequence is to be mirrored by the person taking the field photos in the appropriate u directory. These photos are to be stored on the unit computer under V17, as well as on the photographer’s computer under the shared folder V17u.

As for criteria for publishing, it is important that you do your utmost to:

  • Use the standard North arrows and scales
  • Use the standard North arrows and scales
  • Remove tools, persons (make sure no feet are in shot!) from frame
  • Have a uniform light on subject: no shadows or spots of direct light through tent
  • No labels, relay tags, feature tags or the like in the shot unless specifically desired

VDO stands for Visual Digital, year O. These are all the photos taken during the season, and represent the raw data of our photography system. VDO is a folder containing subfolders, each subfolder consisting of one CF card from a digital camera. The folders are numbered as follows: VDO726 fab 1000 A16v5-10 where the first field is VD+date, then photographer’s initials, hour taken (in military time, from 0000 to 2459) and finally notes on the roll. The photos are then named like the folder, but add a sequential number which is the one assigned by the camera, e.g., VDO726 fab 1000 0375 A16v10.jpg. Batch changes to file names can be made easily in ACDSee. Here the photo number is added after the time, and specific notes on the photo follow. Once the Expedition photographer has processed these directories, a caret (^) is added to the beginning of the folder name.


VDO files are pushed to Plato for the photographer to process and archive.


They are then retrieved by the units in the V17\G\LoRes and V17\G\TN folders on Socrates.

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7.3: Checklist for unit directors

  • Exogenous files
  • Strata definition file
  • Strata assignment file
  • see Program Flowchart

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7.4: Data entry sequence

It incorporate exogenous input from V, W, TB, TP, ZS, etc.
run TMPL program (to be written): it creates a .J file with template file labels to be used in O program (see sample in A16\O\V\0002.O), then process resulting .J file.


Before running O program:
     create JPG and thumbnails from G\P and G\T (plots and templates);
     see above, chapter 4.3 [mistaken link? ZGz10 mDP].

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7.5: The “deep freeze” storage

[TEXT TO BE WRITTEN; ZGz05 mDP]

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7.6: Scan Procedures for slides

January 25, 2006

  1. select only slides with label showing on slide
    see e.g. slide MZ4-C0523
  2. if more than one slide of same subject,
    select best one in your judgment
  3. write "scanned" in red on slide
  4. scan at high resolution (600)
  5. calibrate color as best you can
  6. label slides uniformly as follows:
    rubber stamp:
         MZ4      >      V04
         -C05     >       p05
    red print
         3         >      03
    new label: V04p0503 (no spaces, leading zeroes)
  7. create folders for each roll as follows:
         V04 \ G \ V04p05
         V04 \ G \ V04p06
         etc.

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