Updates to "What does a site record represent" text.

[rondlg]

Discussed in https://github.com/fieldmuseum/EMu-Documentation/discussions/759

^{Originally posted by rondlg January 19, 2023}

What does a Sites record represent

ORIGINAL TEXT: A record in the sites module represents a place and is a record of a position or point in space. There is no time element associated with a site record other than as a result of a place name no longer being used commonly. Detailed time elements such as collection date and/or chronostratigraphy should be captured at the catalogue level as part of a collection event or stratigraphy attachment

• A record in the sites module represents a place and refers to a point in 2 dimensional space.

• There is no time element associated with a site record other than as a result of a place name no longer being used commonly. RC “Time element is just associated with site records if the place name is no longer being used commonly.” MP – why "is no longer being used commonly" included? (alt’ly: “other than to document name changes over time”) [to highlight tracking of historic names / if those occur in the data]

• Detailed time elements such as collection date and/or chronostratigraphy should be captured at the catalogue level as part of a collection event or stratigraphy attachment.

• A current place name or one that is no longer used commonly [MP]

• NS

  Using the word “space”: rather use on earth might be the reason that people think depth and elevation

• DJ

  “Temporal” aspect of excavations Excavation Sites are tied to time/collecting event

• ED

  The ‘Where’ in the ‘who/what/when/where’

• JC, RC

  A single place, may have multiple names Currently or contemporaneously, in different cultures (Synonymy) Over time, through history (Historic Names) https://help.emu.axiell.com/latest/en/Topics/EMu/Sites%20module.htm

• MP

  Think of sites as localities, specific places

[rondlg]

REWORKED TEXT FOR REVIEW:

A record in the sites module represents a specific place and is the “where” in a dataset. It refers to a point, line or polygon in 2 dimensional space.

A single place may have multiple names, over time or concurrently; however, time is not directly associated with a single site record. Historic names, equivalent names and language variations are indicated by synonymous attachments.

Detailed time elements such as: • Collection date • Chronostratigraphy • Temporal aspect of excavations

should be captured as part of a collection event or stratigraphy attachment. As should collection/excavation depths.

Axiell definition: https://help.emu.axiell.com/latest/en/Topics/EMu/Sites%20module.htm

[rondlg]

From Nina Sandlin "I don't think I would know what "a point, line or polygon in 2 dimensional space" meant if I had not been at the meeting. Isn't the "where" always going to be related to some lat/long-definable location or area - in other words, to some surface, be it here on earth or maybe later on the Moon or Mars (which would then be indicated by coordinate reference system)?"

-- What about this instead? A record in the sites module represents a specific place and is the “where” in a dataset. It refers to a point, line or polygon on the surface of the earth.

[rondlg]

From Nina Sandlin "Well, that works for me. But I foresee possible difficulties unless we qualify it with with something like "irrespective of depth or elevation"

-- What about? A record in the sites module represents a specific place and is the “where” in a dataset. It refers to a point, line or polygon on the surface of the earth.

Depth and elevation as pertain to the location are separate concepts from the collection depth though they may be the same value and assist with georeferencing. This should be included in the collection event).

[rondlg]

From Mane Pritza:

Nina males a point, but why limit the definition to "on the surface of the earth"? What happens if tomorrow there is a donation of a moon rock? Also, why limit to 2 dimensional space? A majority of specimens are located on the surface, but how would a specimen site be documented if it was found in an underground mine 1000 feet below the surface. Am I being too detailed for something that never comes up?

Or should the site record be defined as electronic storage containing the area or exact plot of ground where anything has been and was located. Specific data sets like continent, TRS, LL, city, etc can be defined later on in the document.

[rondlg]

added to EMu-users meeting for sign-off