You may be surprised to learn about the existence of the unique field of archaeological illustration. A career in archaeological illustration involves traveling to distant lands, living on-site with archaeologists, and rendering all aspects of a geological/archaeological dig. Archaeological art can include drawings of unearthed objects, reconstructions of objects from fragments, renderings of long-lost structures based on unearthed building portions and foundations, as well as illustrated replications of entire villages and landscapes. The archaeological illustrator will work under the guidance and direction of on-site scientists, but will contribute to each project a talent for visualizing and bringing to life that which is now extinct. For those who love to travel, who are enthusiastic about history and science, and who want to blend those interests with their love of drawing, archaeological art may be the right path.
Archaeological finds illustration of two medieval tooled leather knife sheaths © 2011 Jennie Anderson
Archaeological reconstruction illustration depicting the medieval village of Billesley Trussell (Warwickshire, UK), circa 1370 © 2011 Jennie Anderson
Oil Lamp, Bethsaida, Israel © 1996 Greenburg Center for Judaic Studies / Douglas Andersen
Examples of Decorative Scoring © 2014 Courtney A. McKenna
Geometric Krater with Concentric Circles © 2014 Tina Ross