Section Drawing
Definition
A vertical cut through the excavated sequence, drawn at 1:10 or 1:20, showing the relative positions, depths, and angles of all contexts intersected by the section line. The section drawing is the primary record of the stratigraphic sequence in the vertical plane.
- Typical scale
- 1:10 or 1:20
- Plane
- Vertical
- Records
- Depths, angles and boundaries of contexts crossing the section line
- Field
- Archaeological excavation recording
Common questions
How does a section drawing differ from a plan drawing?+
A plan records the horizontal extent of contexts at a given level, while a section records the vertical sequence, showing which layers lie above, below, or cut into one another.
Why is stratigraphic order important on a section drawing?+
The vertical relationships shown on the drawing are what let an excavator argue the relative chronology of contexts, which is often the only dating evidence available at a disturbed or clandestine burial site.
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