pictograms.info
Facts and data on pictograms Literature

Archaeological Site

Synonyms / Other Terms Used

Archaeological Area, Archaeology, Prehistoric Site

Category

Tourism, Heritage Attractions, Cultural Attractions, History, Historical Attractions

Message / Function

To indicate the location of an archaeological site

 

Source Description
BTA 1989 Page 3.14: Symbol Archaeological Site BTA 1989 Spade and pickaxe
Pictogram No Pict-71: Archaeological Site (Site archéologique) from Québec Québec Side view of pottery with several cracks and missing pieces
Pictogram No 98: Archaeological Site (Yacimiento arqueológico). Argentina Señalética Turística Nacional 2006, by Cánovas Eduardo Argentina
SSTN
Side view of decorated pottery with two handles and crack
Pictogram IT2-5 Amazon Archaeological Site (Zona Arqueológica Amazonía) from Ecuador Ecuador Piece of pottery with several cracks, several shards below
BTA 1989 Page 3.19: Roman Remains BTA 1989 Side view of Roman helmet
BS 8501 Public Information Symbol No 8056: Site with Roman Remains BS 8501:2002 Side view of Roman helmet
BTA 1989 Page 3.18: Prehistoric Site BTA 1989 Two stones in outline next to broken bone
BS 8501 Public Information Symbol No 8057: Prehistoric Site or Monument BS 8501:2002 Side view of megalithic structure with two vertical standing stones topped by connecting horizontal stone
BTA 1989 Page 3.18, Pictogram Prehistoric Monument BTA 1989 Side view of megalithic structure with two vertical standing stones topped by connecting horizontal stone in outline
Pictogram Megalithic Monument (Monumento megalítico) from Extremadura Extremadura Side view of megalithic structure with two vertical standing stones topped by connecting horizontal stone
Italian Traffic Sign FIGURA II 204 ART. 125: Archaeological Area (Zona Archeologica) SVI Broken Ionic capital, column and base indicating remains of classical temple
Pictogram SIT-10: Archaeological Area (Zona Archeológica) from Mexico City MDCT Side view of a Mesoamerican pyramid
Pictogram TTS-36: Archaeological Area (Zona Archeológica) from Jalisco, Mexico Jalisco Side view of a Mesoamerican pyramid
Pictogram IT2-4 Archaeological Site (Zona Arqueológica Andes) from Ecuador Ecuador Temple pyramid like structure with door in the center
Pictogram AT-MC 02: Pre-Hispanic Archaeological Monument (Monumento Arqueológico Prehispánico) from Peru Peru 2016 Frontal view of Inca style trapezoidal doorway made of large stones
Pictogram PC002: Archaeological Sites (Sitios Arqueológicos) from Bolivia Bolivia Frontal view of Inca style trapezoidal doorway plus pottery
Pictogram Archaeological Site (Zona arqueológica) from Extremadura Extremadura Oblique view of two arc like wall remains made of stones

Note: Some of the examples shown above were mirrored horizontally to contrast differences.

Discussion

The selection above indicates that no visual stereotype exists to indicate the location of an archaeological site: image contents vary to a large extent, on one hand regarding the region, where the pictograms are used, and on the other hand concerning the type of remains found. The British Standard BS 8501:2002 for example offers several pictograms, starting with No 8055 for industrial archaeology sites, followed by No 8056 showing a side view of a Roman helmet for sites with Roman remains, and No 8057 for prehistoric sites or monuments. Furthermore it has to be regarded that there is some overlap between the referents Archaeological Site, Ruins, and Monument.

We could not find any test data concerning graphic symbols for Archaeological Site in our database, so we cannot present specific information concerning comprehensibility or some other parameters for one or several of the pictograms presented above.

Recommendations

Due to the fact that no data concerning comprehensibility of any pictogram variant is available, we recommend to collect more pictograms, and to conduct research using the Comprehensibility Estimation procedure for eliminating poor variants and identifying the best of the set available, followed by a Comprehension Test. These studies should deliver useful data for recommending one or several pictograms. Detailed information about the most frequent responses given in each of the response categories of the Comprehension Test should be provided to correctly judge comprehensibility and improve designs.

Tests of pictograms of referent Archaeological Site

No data from research or tests is available in our database.

See also

Castle, Church, Monument, Museum, Palace

 

Updated 2025-05-12 by Christoph Brugger