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 | |
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BTA 1989 | Spade and pickaxe |
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Québec | Side view of pottery with several cracks and missing pieces |
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Argentina SSTN |
Side view of decorated pottery with two handles and crack |
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Ecuador | Piece of pottery with several cracks, several shards below |
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BTA 1989 | Side view of Roman helmet |
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BS 8501:2002 | Side view of Roman helmet |
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BTA 1989 | Two stones in outline next to broken bone |
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BS 8501:2002 | Side view of megalithic structure with two vertical standing stones topped by connecting horizontal stone |
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BTA 1989 | Side view of megalithic structure with two vertical standing stones topped by connecting horizontal stone in outline |
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Extremadura | Side view of megalithic structure with two vertical standing stones topped by connecting horizontal stone |
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SVI | Broken Ionic capital, column and base indicating remains of classical temple |
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MDCT | Side view of a Mesoamerican pyramid |
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Jalisco | Side view of a Mesoamerican pyramid |
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Ecuador | Temple pyramid like structure with door in the center |
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Peru 2016 | Frontal view of Inca style trapezoidal doorway made of large stones |
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Bolivia | Frontal view of Inca style trapezoidal doorway plus pottery |
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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