Appropriate Methods of Recording in Archaeology and for Conservation ... 
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Documentation in archaeology means in the ideal sense three-dimensional recording and thereafter simulation of excavated (and 
mostly removed) setting. Technically speaking we are far away from any such recording. At least with 3D recording by total-station 
and its software an approximation can be obtained. 
Documentation in archaeology also means recording of structure surface textures like material patterns of walls (brick, stone etc.). 
Here the texture as a pattern is of primary importance, not its precision in measurement. Instead of time consuming traditional hand 
measurements, simple approximate photographic recordings with their electronic interpretation may under specific conditions lead to 
better, faster and more economic documentaries. 
Documentation in archaeology also means administration and management of huge information data banks. Here an newly developed 
databank administration system has been developed jointly with the private sector and may help in supporting a quick access to 
complex data banks. 
As a consequence of modern time and finance constraints new ways of rationalization also in archaeology have to be looked for. 
While hardly any improvement can be envisaged in excavation techniques, definitely rationalization can be obtained in the sector of 
documentation. This presentation may offer one way of doing so. 
2. DOCUMENTATION METHODS AT AL-BALEED 
The documentation of al-Baleed is associated with the collection of a vast amount of information from different sources. These 
sources are related to the implementation of different activities for gathering information and thereby developing the park. These 
activities are classified in: 
Excavation 
Conservation 
Landscaping 
Didactics 
2.1 Documenting Excavation works 
Excavation deals, structurally speaking, with the documentation of surfaces prior, during excavations and after excavation works; as 
well with the documentation of wall structures stone by stone, horizontally as well as vertically. 
The loci of objects can be easily identified by the 3-D co-ordinates of total station reading thus allowing future 3-D identification. Of 
course this recording does not substitute the traditional planum- profile recording. 
While methods for 3-D surface recording by total-station (Topcon, Leica etc.) have been proved to be extremely effective and 
precise, plan parallel recordings with simple photography transferred into electronic recording programs has been proved sufficient in 
relation to approximate preciseness for the identification and study of surface structures such as stone by stone documentations. The 
same method can be applied for the recording of planum and profile with the critical re-working in the photo/ record itself. 
The information gathered is recorded and produced simultaneously to the works through the use of using sustainable off-shelf 
application and instruments widely available in the market, such as a Total Station, CAAD, analogue cameras, scanner, raster image 
processing applications used roughly rectified photography. 
2.2 Conservation Forms 
The completed structure documentation of the site, prior, during and after the excavation works has permitted the preparation of a 
“Conservation Manual”, which is used for monitoring the state of conservation of the different sectors or identified structures in the 
site and provides strategies for adequate immediate conservation work and historic recording (See Figure 2).