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Archaeological Reconstructions
Archaeological Reconstructions

Archaeological Reconstructions

Artists Robert B. Ciaccio and Eric Carlson create vivid reconstructions of past lifeways based on environmental, architectural, biological, and material cultural data. Depictions of individuals and domestic scenes help relate research on the lifeways of past peoples to viewers in an intuitive and approachable manner.

Images of individuals put faces to the people of the past. Illustrations of precontact structures show architectural details and can depict construction sequences. Scenes of daily life present a comprehensive picture of how people interacted with each other, their technology, their built environment, and their natural setting.

This unique type of artwork is ideal for websites, book covers, frontispieces, foldouts, posters, signage, and public talks. The graphic artistic process is driven by research and collaboration with subject matter experts to deliver on the client’s vision.

Contact us to contract graphic services or to inquire about permissions or fees to reuse existing artwork. 

Click any image below to enlarge.
Illustrations for <em>Archaeology Southwest</em>’s Save Indigenous History Children’s Activity Book https://savehistory.org/save-indigenous-history/ (by Eric Carlson).
Illustrations for Archaeology Southwest’s Save Indigenous History Children’s Activity Book https://savehistory.org/save-indigenous-history/ (by Eric Carlson).
Reconstruction of the 15,000-year-old occupation of the Delta River Overlook Site, Tanana River Basin, Interior Alaska, one of the oldest sites in North America. The earliest inhabitants of the site hunted and butchered Steppe Bison (<em>Bison priscus</em>), a now extinct species of Late Pleistocene bison. Illustration completed for the Tok Visitor’s Center, Tok, AK and for Fort Wainwright CEMML)(by Eric Carlson).
Reconstruction of the 15,000-year-old occupation of the Delta River Overlook Site, Tanana River Basin, Interior Alaska, one of the oldest sites in North America. The earliest inhabitants of the site hunted and butchered Steppe Bison (Bison priscus), a now extinct species of Late Pleistocene bison. Illustration completed for the Tok Visitor’s Center, Tok, AK and for Fort Wainwright CEMML)(by Eric Carlson).
Stacked timeline depicting the dynamic cultural landscape around and beneath Santa Clara College, CA (by Eric Carlson).
Stacked timeline depicting the dynamic cultural landscape around and beneath Santa Clara College, CA (by Eric Carlson).
Conceptual cutaway image of a Pecos style communal pithouse created for <em>Archaeology Southwest</em> magazine as an accompaniment to their issue titled
Conceptual cutaway image of a Pecos style communal pithouse created for Archaeology Southwest magazine as an accompaniment to their issue titled "Pecos Pueblo, a Place of Persistence."
Reconstruction of members of a pre-Hispanic family, all displaying tabular oblique cranial modification. This image is based on individuals from the El Cementerio site, located along the middle Rio Yaqui in central Sonora, Mexico. This image is featured in <em>Archaeology Southwest</em> magazine (Vol. 30, No. 3), as well as an exhibit in the Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Historia, Sonora (by Robert Ciaccio).
Reconstruction of members of a pre-Hispanic family, all displaying tabular oblique cranial modification. This image is based on individuals from the El Cementerio site, located along the middle Rio Yaqui in central Sonora, Mexico. This image is featured in Archaeology Southwest magazine (Vol. 30, No. 3), as well as an exhibit in the Instituto Nacional de Antropología y Historia, Sonora (by Robert Ciaccio).
Reconstruction of Early Agricultural period people tending crops and maintaining irrigation canals near the Santa Cruz River, Tucson (by Robert Ciaccio).
Reconstruction of Early Agricultural period people tending crops and maintaining irrigation canals near the Santa Cruz River, Tucson (by Robert Ciaccio).
Reconstruction of artisans at work and other activities occurring within the lively plaza at Casa Grande, for Casa Grande Ruins Wayside #9, “Not Just Survival—A Place for the Arts” (by Robert Ciaccio).
Reconstruction of artisans at work and other activities occurring within the lively plaza at Casa Grande, for Casa Grande Ruins Wayside #9, “Not Just Survival—A Place for the Arts” (by Robert Ciaccio).
Reconstruction of a moment in time at Honey Bee Village, a Hohokam settlement occupied between AD 850 and 1000, for <em>Archaeology Southwest</em> magazine (Vol. 27, No. 1) (by Robert Ciaccio).
Reconstruction of a moment in time at Honey Bee Village, a Hohokam settlement occupied between AD 850 and 1000, for Archaeology Southwest magazine (Vol. 27, No. 1) (by Robert Ciaccio).
Reconstruction of food preparation and storage by the Fremont people, for <em>Archaeology Southwest</em> magazine (Vol. 29, No. 4) (by Robert Ciaccio).
Reconstruction of food preparation and storage by the Fremont people, for Archaeology Southwest magazine (Vol. 29, No. 4) (by Robert Ciaccio).
Image from Mesa Verde National Monument, New Mexico depicting the Far View House as it may have appeared during its occupation. The reconstruction image, based on accurate and culturally aware research, will be incorporated into a waysides signage project to be installed at the Far View House site.
Image from Mesa Verde National Monument, New Mexico depicting the Far View House as it may have appeared during its occupation. The reconstruction image, based on accurate and culturally aware research, will be incorporated into a waysides signage project to be installed at the Far View House site.