Contents of the database

The database consists of an expert analytical description of more than 500 archaeological artefacts, including full documentation – macrophotographs, microphotographs of the surface, wear traces or microresidues, results of analyses of the chemical composition or structure of the material, provenance and 3D analyses. An integral part of each record is also a description of recent damage and contamination, and their impact on the quality of preserved archaeological information. This description can be valuable feedback for conservation and museum workers, which will enable them to make qualified decisions about the extent and method of conservation of archaeological finds, as well as about the possibilities of analyses that should be included even before the planned conservation intervention for new finds.
 

Structure of the database

Individual artefacts are stored in the database in the form of metadata records supplemented by two-dimensional representations (micro- and macro-photographs). The metadata record consists of the following fields:
The artefact name is composed of Artefact category and Artefact ID. Artefact ID consists of the abbreviation of the site, ID number of the archaeological context (number of grave or settlement feature or probe) if it is known, and ID number of the artefact. In the case, the artefacts have no proper evidence number, they are numbered in numerical order as a sequential number in the analysis. For example, TKS_F170A_195 is a artefact no. 195 from Těšetice–Kyjovice – Sutny site, from settlement feature No. 170 and its sector A.

Artefact category sorts basically the typological or functional groups of the artefacts. They can be further sorted if searching combines Artefact types and Raw material.

Site means usually the name of the cadastre and field or local name of the proper archaeological unit, as it is stated during excavations, and it will be evidenced in the Report archives and publications.

Geolocation (field WGS84 Geolocation) is usually read as the midpoint of the cadastre (field WGS84 Geolocation Accuracy), due to the protection of sites from illegal interventions.
Relative datation is preferred over the name of the archaeological culture, because it is more general and known over the world.

Absolute datation range means commonly accepted absolute data of the period, in which the artefact had its origin, or it is 14C datation in the case the necessary sampling was possible and artefact was thus dated. 

Absolute datation source is filled in the case the 14C datation sample was sampled from the artefact itself or from another finding from the same archaeological context.

Feature type describes (if such information was available) from what kind of archaeological feature the artefact proceeded, such as grave, settlement pit, dwelling, hoard, probe etc. Feature ID specifies the archaeological evidence information identifiable in Site plans and Context description in the Report.

Deposition condition can influence the preservation and readibility of the invisible data, as for as it can alternate the surface colour or structure. The description involve both depositional conditions at the moment of excavation, and the identified circumstances which took place during the deposition period.

Finding context (note) enables further archaeological information about the details of deposition, other findings in the same context, other circumstances.

Original state of preservation means the state of the artefact in the moment of excavation, and evidencing all fractures, damage, completeness or fragmentarity etc. Sometimes, fragmented artefacts can be recomposed from original fragments or completed by another material. So the original state is important entry information. The original fractures can serve as beneficial place of the sampling, and their topography and character should be described and documented before recomposition, because it brings another archaeological data.

Raw material is general information regarding artefact basic sorting such as knapped stone, ceramics etc.

Surface alteration describes all identified changes of the surface colour, bright, structure etc. caused by various agents.

Surface data presence describes all data identified on the surface, usually through microscopy and optical methods generated from 3D data (RTI, DStretch etc.). In all cases, the appropriate analytical method is noted.

Mass & structure data presence describes all data observed or measured from the inner mass, such as chemical composition, inner cavities or crevices, microfossils, petrographical description of the thin sections etc. In all cases, the appropriate analytical method is noted.

Recent damage & alteration indicates if any contamination, alteration or damage is presented (yes|no).

Contamination and recent damage noted all entry data about the impact of post-excavation care to preservation of invisible data. Because we see these information as essential, they were presented also in the Czech language in the item Methodic note (CZ) – see bellow.

Subordinate dataset enables information if artefact was subject of specialised research of our laboratory in the past. Such datasets join larger collections of the artefacts of the same type and datation, and thus present more detailed research data. Concrete URL of the artefact record is part of field Subordinate dataset link.

Methodic note (CZ) conclude if the artefact was operated in accordance with the needs of modern analytical methods focused on invisible data recollection, in Czech language.
 

Browsing the database

The database can be browsed through the main menu via the Browse item, which includes several options. Either the entire content of the database can be viewed without any limitations, or the content can be accessed according to the selected criteria (Artefact category, Site, Relative datation, Raw material). A combination of different criteria and a more detailed query definition allows the searching option (see below).

Searching the database

The database can be searched through the main menu via the Search item. The search form offers the definition of selected parameters. One or more values can be selected in each field, and these values are implicitly linked by the OR operator (the system searches for records that contain at least one of the specified terms). There is an implicit AND operator between each field (the system searches only those records that contain all of the specified expressions). The resulting set of records can be ordered according to the selected parameters (Sort by a Order).