1) Drawing a Line: Depictions of the Dead in Archaeology.
I am an archaeologist for MOD. Most of the sites I have been involved with have revealed human remains. These linked tweets relate to both hobby & site tool (aide memoire) – inspired by an enjoyment of drawing.
#digideath
2) Howard asked me if I’d like to contribute to the conference with some of the sketches I put together for #inktober; a digital event in October posting a drawing a day. Depictions of the dead in the past are not new, see this Turkish mosaic & a rather famous tapestry #digideath
2) Howard asked me if I’d like to contribute to the conference with some of the sketches I put together for #inktober; a digital event in October posting a drawing a day. Depictions of the dead in the past are not new, see this Turkish mosaic & a rather famous tapestry #digideath
2) Howard asked me if I’d like to contribute to the conference with some of the sketches I put together for #inktober; a digital event in October posting a drawing a day. Depictions of the dead in the past are not new, see this Turkish mosaic & a rather famous tapestry #digideath
3) The early archaeologists did not have photography available & many (Like Colt Hoare with 'Ancient Wiltshire') were mainly interested in the finds from monuments alone – thus we rely on their descriptions instead. Pitt-Rivers began to change this – here at Cissbury #digideath
3) The early archaeologists did not have photography available & many (Like Colt Hoare with 'Ancient Wiltshire') were mainly interested in the finds from monuments alone – thus we rely on their descriptions instead. Pitt-Rivers began to change this – here at Cissbury #digideath
3) The early archaeologists did not have photography available & many (Like Colt Hoare with 'Ancient Wiltshire') were mainly interested in the finds from monuments alone – thus we rely on their descriptions instead. Pitt-Rivers began to change this – here at Cissbury #digideath
3) The early archaeologists did not have photography available & many (Like Colt Hoare with 'Ancient Wiltshire') were mainly interested in the finds from monuments alone – thus we rely on their descriptions instead. Pitt-Rivers began to change this – here at Cissbury #digideath
4) In Europe of the mid 19th C, Ramsauer dug the LBA/EIA type site at Hallstatt, Austria. The sumptuous images giving an immediate record of artefacts, body position etc. They are an artefact in their own right. #digideath
4) In Europe of the mid 19th C, Ramsauer dug the LBA/EIA type site at Hallstatt, Austria. The sumptuous images giving an immediate record of artefacts, body position etc. They are an artefact in their own right. #digideath
4) In Europe of the mid 19th C, Ramsauer dug the LBA/EIA type site at Hallstatt, Austria. The sumptuous images giving an immediate record of artefacts, body position etc. They are an artefact in their own right. #digideath
4) In Europe of the mid 19th C, Ramsauer dug the LBA/EIA type site at Hallstatt, Austria. The sumptuous images giving an immediate record of artefacts, body position etc. They are an artefact in their own right. #digideath
5) I first saw the Hallsatt images at Uni but my introduction to actually drawing such elements was at Sudden Farm where I had to draw many of the burials of an IA cemetery for Prof Sir Barry Cunliffe. These drawings formed part of the archive for publication. #digideath
5) I first saw the Hallsatt images at Uni but my introduction to actually drawing such elements was at Sudden Farm where I had to draw many of the burials of an IA cemetery for Prof Sir Barry Cunliffe. These drawings formed part of the archive for publication. #digideath
5) I first saw the Hallsatt images at Uni but my introduction to actually drawing such elements was at Sudden Farm where I had to draw many of the burials of an IA cemetery for Prof Sir Barry Cunliffe. These drawings formed part of the archive for publication. #digideath
6) Ramsauer stayed with me. When I Co-directed the #opnightingale work at Barrow Clump, I knew the 1:10 drawings would be archived and thus wanted my own easy record of finds, locations and notes. Hence the affectation of my site book with drawings of the 6th C dead. #digideath
6) Ramsauer stayed with me. When I Co-directed the #opnightingale work at Barrow Clump, I knew the 1:10 drawings would be archived and thus wanted my own easy record of finds, locations and notes. Hence the affectation of my site book with drawings of the 6th C dead. #digideath
6) Ramsauer stayed with me. When I Co-directed the #opnightingale work at Barrow Clump, I knew the 1:10 drawings would be archived and thus wanted my own easy record of finds, locations and notes. Hence the affectation of my site book with drawings of the 6th C dead. #digideath
6) Ramsauer stayed with me. When I Co-directed the #opnightingale work at Barrow Clump, I knew the 1:10 drawings would be archived and thus wanted my own easy record of finds, locations and notes. Hence the affectation of my site book with drawings of the 6th C dead. #digideath
6) Ramsauer stayed with me. When I Co-directed the #opnightingale work at Barrow Clump, I knew the 1:10 drawings would be archived and thus wanted my own easy record of finds, locations and notes. Hence the affectation of my site book with drawings of the 6th C dead. #digideath
7) I work on lots of 20thC sites & am intrigued by changing attitudes to depicting the dead. The Battle of the Somme film showed many bodies of dead soldiers. The unit within MOD that deals with human remains from this conflict discourage excavation images of the dead #digideath
8) See https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mod-war-detectives-the-joint-casualty-and-compassionate-centre-commemorations-team-who-we-are for more about works with the war dead. Image © Crown
#digideath
9) Being part of a team that found the remains of an Australian soldier in 2008 (Pte Alan Mather) was a moving experience. The Australians were clear that we were to only show his remains as drawings (my site image below). His kit is in a Museum & this is him in life. #digideath
9) Being part of a team that found the remains of an Australian soldier in 2008 (Pte Alan Mather) was a moving experience. The Australians were clear that we were to only show his remains as drawings (my site image below). His kit is in a Museum & this is him in life. #digideath
9) Being part of a team that found the remains of an Australian soldier in 2008 (Pte Alan Mather) was a moving experience. The Australians were clear that we were to only show his remains as drawings (my site image below). His kit is in a Museum & this is him in life. #digideath
9) Being part of a team that found the remains of an Australian soldier in 2008 (Pte Alan Mather) was a moving experience. The Australians were clear that we were to only show his remains as drawings (my site image below). His kit is in a Museum & this is him in life. #digideath
10) Alan’s family has seen his name as one of the ‘Missing' on the Menin Gate and were now able to attend his funeral – over 90 years after his death. We offered them the chance to see photos of the fieldwork – bones and all – and this they chose to do, in private. #digideath
10) Alan’s family has seen his name as one of the ‘Missing' on the Menin Gate and were now able to attend his funeral – over 90 years after his death. We offered them the chance to see photos of the fieldwork – bones and all – and this they chose to do, in private. #digideath
10) Alan’s family has seen his name as one of the ‘Missing' on the Menin Gate and were now able to attend his funeral – over 90 years after his death. We offered them the chance to see photos of the fieldwork – bones and all – and this they chose to do, in private. #digideath
10) Alan’s family has seen his name as one of the ‘Missing' on the Menin Gate and were now able to attend his funeral – over 90 years after his death. We offered them the chance to see photos of the fieldwork – bones and all – and this they chose to do, in private. #digideath
11) Excavations at Bullecourt have also yielded the remains of German soldiers - here of a man who was killed in 1917 and lay on a wire mesh frame. The skull was scanned by @FaceLabLJMU to produce this wonderful likeness. A Prussian man. He too is reburied #digideath
11) Excavations at Bullecourt have also yielded the remains of German soldiers - here of a man who was killed in 1917 and lay on a wire mesh frame. The skull was scanned by @FaceLabLJMU to produce this wonderful likeness. A Prussian man. He too is reburied #digideath
11) Excavations at Bullecourt have also yielded the remains of German soldiers - here of a man who was killed in 1917 and lay on a wire mesh frame. The skull was scanned by @FaceLabLJMU to produce this wonderful likeness. A Prussian man. He too is reburied #digideath
11) Excavations at Bullecourt have also yielded the remains of German soldiers - here of a man who was killed in 1917 and lay on a wire mesh frame. The skull was scanned by @FaceLabLJMU to produce this wonderful likeness. A Prussian man. He too is reburied #digideath
11) Excavations at Bullecourt have also yielded the remains of German soldiers - here of a man who was killed in 1917 and lay on a wire mesh frame. The skull was scanned by @FaceLabLJMU to produce this wonderful likeness. A Prussian man. He too is reburied #digideath
12) Lockdown of course gave us even more opportunity to draw and to depict the past with the excellent #museumsunlocked organised by @profdanhicks . This scheme however would not permit photos of the dead and so drawings it was. This worked well for #inktober too. #digideath
13) Back to Barrow Clump. Here is the official site drawing of an adult male with sword, spear, knife, pin and belt and the drawing I use to emphasise certain elements AND the chalk bedrock. #digideath
13) Back to Barrow Clump. Here is the official site drawing of an adult male with sword, spear, knife, pin and belt and the drawing I use to emphasise certain elements AND the chalk bedrock. #digideath
13) Back to Barrow Clump. Here is the official site drawing of an adult male with sword, spear, knife, pin and belt and the drawing I use to emphasise certain elements AND the chalk bedrock. #digideath
14) On our private Facebook page I have drawn pen/ink images of the 18/19thC convict burials from Rat Island to complement the archive & pick out detail like holes in teeth from pipe smoking. With some of the burials, photos are not easy as they are in the cliff face. #digideath
14) On our private Facebook page I have drawn pen/ink images of the 18/19thC convict burials from Rat Island to complement the archive & pick out detail like holes in teeth from pipe smoking. With some of the burials, photos are not easy as they are in the cliff face. #digideath
14) On our private Facebook page I have drawn pen/ink images of the 18/19thC convict burials from Rat Island to complement the archive & pick out detail like holes in teeth from pipe smoking. With some of the burials, photos are not easy as they are in the cliff face. #digideath
14) On our private Facebook page I have drawn pen/ink images of the 18/19thC convict burials from Rat Island to complement the archive & pick out detail like holes in teeth from pipe smoking. With some of the burials, photos are not easy as they are in the cliff face. #digideath
14) On our private Facebook page I have drawn pen/ink images of the 18/19thC convict burials from Rat Island to complement the archive & pick out detail like holes in teeth from pipe smoking. With some of the burials, photos are not easy as they are in the cliff face. #digideath
15) Beyond the single images of stray finds on the foreshore, drawing the skull with craniotomy was a challenge – this man’s face was again reconstructed by @FaceLabLJMU . Drawing scenes in the pathology lab also add to memories. #digideath
15) Beyond the single images of stray finds on the foreshore, drawing the skull with craniotomy was a challenge – this man’s face was again reconstructed by @FaceLabLJMU . Drawing scenes in the pathology lab also add to memories. #digideath
15) Beyond the single images of stray finds on the foreshore, drawing the skull with craniotomy was a challenge – this man’s face was again reconstructed by @FaceLabLJMU . Drawing scenes in the pathology lab also add to memories. #digideath
15) Beyond the single images of stray finds on the foreshore, drawing the skull with craniotomy was a challenge – this man’s face was again reconstructed by @FaceLabLJMU . Drawing scenes in the pathology lab also add to memories. #digideath
15) Beyond the single images of stray finds on the foreshore, drawing the skull with craniotomy was a challenge – this man’s face was again reconstructed by @FaceLabLJMU . Drawing scenes in the pathology lab also add to memories. #digideath
16) So why bother? What’s the point? For me drawing is cathartic, it is transformative. You can pick out specific details, interpret, make memories. You also avoid restrictions in showing ‘real’ human remains, avoid showing elements which are ‘classified’. #digitdeath
16) So why bother? What’s the point? For me drawing is cathartic, it is transformative. You can pick out specific details, interpret, make memories. You also avoid restrictions in showing ‘real’ human remains, avoid showing elements which are ‘classified’. #digitdeath
16) So why bother? What’s the point? For me drawing is cathartic, it is transformative. You can pick out specific details, interpret, make memories. You also avoid restrictions in showing ‘real’ human remains, avoid showing elements which are ‘classified’. #digitdeath
16) So why bother? What’s the point? For me drawing is cathartic, it is transformative. You can pick out specific details, interpret, make memories. You also avoid restrictions in showing ‘real’ human remains, avoid showing elements which are ‘classified’. #digitdeath
17) You can also use your images without transgressing someone’s (c). Having sketches on site has been incredibly useful. You can record small personal anecdotes by each piece of work, recall visually what came from where. Immediately. Without recourse to archive. #digideath
17) It gives one the chance to be imaginative without being tasteless, to explore myth, legend, stories and to depict. To reconstruct and to restore. My attempt at the blood-dripping ghost of the drummer boy from Salisbury Plain…. #digideath
18) And when all elements of the site recording has been handed over – these drawings remain something you can hold onto. It is, of course, essential to keep up the photography, measured drawing, scanning & science. But for the soul, drawing the dead is life-affirming. #digideath
18) And when all elements of the site recording has been handed over – these drawings remain something you can hold onto. It is, of course, essential to keep up the photography, measured drawing, scanning & science. But for the soul, drawing the dead is life-affirming. #digideath
18) And when all elements of the site recording has been handed over – these drawings remain something you can hold onto. It is, of course, essential to keep up the photography, measured drawing, scanning & science. But for the soul, drawing the dead is life-affirming. #digideath
You can follow @richardhosgood.
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