A Novel Method for Illustrating Stone Tools

Jacopo Cerasoni of the Pan-Ev research group at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History has developed an open-access protocol for creating publishable lithic illustraions

Until now, lithic illustrations have been hand-drawn by archaeological illustrators or researchers with extensive experience. In recent decades, however, lithic illustrations have been used less and less, owing to high-costs and the increased use of photography.

But lithic illustrations are still an invaluable tool for archaeology which cannot be substituted with photographs or any other recording method present today. With this newly optimized step-by-step protocol, Jacopo Cerasoni of the ‘Lise Meitner’ Pan-African Evolution research group at the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History offers a novel method for illustrating stone tools, giving everyone - from professional researchers to students - the possibility to produce cost-free, competent and publishable illustrations.

Access the protocol here.