These items are then placed into a data bank. The computer is a marvelous tool. Descriptions and photo images of objects can be sorted daily by square for an excavation. Drawings are another important record of the daily work in the field. Architects draw plans of buildings being excavated and give helpful advice to the field archaeologist concerning what they might expect to find the next day or season based on their drawings and professional speculations.
Artists draw objects and artifacts and trace wall drawings and graffiti.
It might seem to be a waste of effort with photographs but there are two benefits to drawing. The first is that it forces the archaeologist to pay attention to detail, whether they are a good artist or not. The second is that it provides an undistracted visual record. This data, along with the pictures, lab results and daily notes, are all compiled together for the archaeologist to sort through in the off-season. There is no end to the amount of data that can be recorded in an excavation.