Documentation

Linked Open Samian Ware


Transformation Workflow

The Data used for the Linked Open Samian Ware-Project stems from multiple resources (e.g. Corpus Vasorum Arretinorum, User Entries of the Samian Research-Community), resulting in a partly normalised database. Several steps (especially the cfm-scripts) were necessary in order to normalise the source data and transform it into RDF:

  • curate entries in the Samian Research Database (PostgreSQL)
  • create database views from the original database tables via ColdFusion/SQL
  • export database views as CSV files
  • transform CSV files with Python to RDF according to the Samian ontology
  • import RDF files with a Java application in a RDF4J triplestore
  • link the data to the Linked Open Data Cloud, e.g. Pleiades, Wikidata


Ontology

Prefixes

Linked Open Samian Ware features several preestablished prefixes as well as the prefix lado and samian. Uses are demonstrated in the maps and examples below.

Prefix Value
samian http://lod.archaeology.link/data/samian/
crm http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/
dc http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/
dct http://purl.org/dc/terms/
dcmitype http://purl.org/dc/dcmitype/
geosparql http://www.opengis.net/ont/geosparql#>
lado http://samian/ontology
owl http://www.w3.org/2002/07/owl#
pleiades https://pleiades.stoa.org/places/vocab#
rdf http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#
rdfs http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#
sf http://www.opengis.net/ont/sf#
skos http://www.w3.org/2004/02/skos/core#
xml http://www.w3.org/XML/1998/namespace
xsd http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#


Class Structure

Samian Map

The ontology represents a graph model of the original relational database. Vague relations are included and marked as amt. Classes (white boxes) are related to each other through predicates (arrows). Checkered lines present abstract relations to type classes (yellow and grey) as well as AMT-relations, which belong to their superclass but have been highlighted for visibility.



Detailed InformationCarrier

Example Query - InformationCarrier

-> 100 Random InformationCarriers and their associated Discovery Site, Production Centre and Repository Location

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>

SELECT *  WHERE {
  ?item	rdf:type lado:InformationCarrier.
  ?item 	rdfs:label ?label.
  ?item 	lado:disclosedAt ?loc_disc.
  ?loc_disc 	rdfs:label ?disc_label.
  ?item	lado:hasKilnsite ?loc_prod.
  ?loc_prod 	rdfs:label ?prod_label.
  ?item	lado:storedAt ?loc_rep.
  ?loc_rep	rdfs:label ?rep_label.   	
}
LIMIT 100
  

Output:

item label loc_disc disc_label loc_prod prod_label loc_rep rep_label
samian:ic_208496 “redslipvessel formtype Unknown”@en samian:loc_ds_1002687 “Plessis-du-Mée”@en samian:loc_pc_2000016 “Lezoux”@en samian:loc_rl_3102331 “Plessis-du-Mée”@en
samian:ic_207892 “redslipvessel formtype 37”@en samian:loc_ds_1000357 “Susa”@en samian:loc_pc_2000017 “Lubié”@en samian:loc_rl_3446482 “Susa”@en
samian:ic_207892 “redslipvessel formtype 37”@en samian:loc_ds_1000357 “Susa”@en samian:loc_pc_2000016 “Lezoux”@en samian:loc_rl_3446482 “Susa”@en

-> 100 distinct InformationCarriers and their weight (vagueness) & production centres

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>
PREFIX vocab: <http://academic-meta-tool.xyz/vocab#>

SELECT ?item (SAMPLE (?Info_label) as ?Info_label) (SAMPLE(?weight)as ?weight) (SAMPLE (?prod_label) as ?prod_label) WHERE {
  ?item rdf:type lado:InformationCarrier;
  rdfs:label ?Info_label;
  lado:hasKilnsite ?productioncentre;
  lado:hasAMT ?amt.
  ?amt vocab:weight ?weight.
  ?productioncentre rdfs:label ?prod_label;
}
GROUP BY ?item
LIMIT 100

Output:

item Info_label weight prod_label
samian:ic_112680 “redslipvessel formtype 31”@en 1 “Lezoux”@en
samian:ic_55293 “redslipvessel formtype Unknown”@en 1 “Lezoux”@en
samian:ic_55292 “redslipvessel formtype Unknown”@en 1 “Lezoux”@en


Detailed Inscription

Example Query - Inscription

-> Inscriptions with a reading stemming from a die impression and the actor which is mentioned in it:

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>

SELECT *  WHERE {
  ?insc	rdf:type lado:Inscription;
  lado:simpleReading ?reading;
  lado:hasType lado:DieImpression;
  lado:isAbout ?actor.
  ?actor lado:name ?name.  
}
  

Output:

Insc Reading Actor Name
samian:insc_43034 “DIOMEDES” samian:ac_7010018 “(M.) (Perennius) (Tigranus) (4)”
samian:insc_43389 “POTITVS” samian:ac_7009673 “Potitus (1)”
samian:insc_43415 “PRIMVS” samian:ac_7009402 “Primus (1)”

-> InformationCarriers, their inscriptions and makingtypes:

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>

SELECT ?item ?info_label ?inscription ?inscriptionmakingtype ?die WHERE {
  ?item rdf:type lado:InformationCarrier;
  rdfs:label ?info_label;
  lado:carries ?inscription.
  ?inscription lado:wasMadeBy ?inscriptionmakingtype.
  ?inscriptionmakingtype lado:hasType ?die.
}
LIMIT 100
  

Output:

item info_label inscription inscriptionmakingtype die
samian:ic_14040 “redslipvessel formtype 27”@en samian:insc_1 samian:mt_1 lado:Die
samian:ic_14058 “redslipvessel formtype Unknown”@en samian:insc_10 samian:mt_10 lado:Die
samian:ic_202856 “redslipvessel formtype 29”@en samian:insc_100 samian:mt_100 lado:Die


Detailed Actor

Example Query - Actor

-> 100 Random ActorEntities and their associated Production Centre and Status:

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>

SELECT *  WHERE {
  ?actor_ent	rdf:type lado:ActorEntity;
  rdfs:label ?label;
  lado:hasStatus ?status;
  lado:worksAtPlace ?worksAt.
  ?worksAt rdfs:label ?loc_label.
}
LIMIT 100
  

Output:

actor_ent label status worksAt loc_label
samian:ae_564 “Arvernicus ii”@en lado:IndependentPotter samian:loc_pc_2000048 “Sinzig”@en
samian:ae_1044 “Boudus ii”@en lado:IndependentPotter samian:loc_pc_2000048 “Sinzig”@en
samian:ae_1541 “Arvernicus ii”@en lado:IndependentPotter samian:loc_pc_2000048 “Sinzig”@en

-> ChiefPotters who interact with DependentPotters:

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>

SELECT ?chief ?chief_label ?dependent ?dependent_label  WHERE {
  ?chief rdf:type lado:ActorEntity;
  rdfs:label ?chief_label;
  lado:hasStatus lado:ChiefPotter;
  lado:interactsWith ?dependent.
  ?dependent rdf:type lado:ActorEntity;
  rdfs:label ?dependent_label;
  lado:hasStatus lado:DependentPotter.
}
  

Output:

chief chief_label dependent dependent_label
samian:ae_10348 “Vibius Iucun(dus) Vibius”@en samian:ae_136996 “IVCVN(DVS)”@en
samian:ae_7878 “Serius Thyrsus Serius”@en samian:ae_214084 “THYRSVS”@en
samian:ae_8314 “L. Umbricius Thyrsus”@en samian:ae_214084 “THYRSVS”@en


Detailed Location

Example Query - Location

-> Kilnregion, Workers & their Status of the Productioncentre “La Graufesenque:”

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>

SELECT ?loc_label ?kr_label ?name ?status WHERE {
  ?item rdf:type lado:Location.
  ?item rdfs:label ?loc_label.
  ?item rdfs:label "La Graufesenque"@en.
  ?item lado:clusteredAs ?kilnregion.
  ?kilnregion rdfs:label ?kr_label.
  ?item lado:hasWorker ?worker.
  ?worker lado:name ?name.
  ?worker lado:hasStatus ?status.
}
  

Output:

loc_label kr_label name status
“La Graufesenque”@en “South Gaulish”@en “ABC (or Abc- or ABG-)” lado:IndependentPotter
“La Graufesenque”@en “South Gaulish”@en “Abitus (Habitus)” lado:IndependentPotter
“La Graufesenque”@en “South Gaulish”@en “Acanus (Acaunus)” lado:IndependentPotter


Detailed Potform

Example Query - Potform

-> Potforms and their labels with tradition “Gaulish:”

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>

SELECT ?item ?tradition ?label WHERE {
  ?item rdf:type lado:Potform.
  ?item lado:hasType ?tradition; lado:hasType lado:Gaulish.
  ?item rdfs:label ?label.
}
  

Output

Item Tradition Label
samian:pf_1 lado:Gaulish “15”
samian:pf_11 lado:Gaulish “18/31”
samian:pf_12 lado:Gaulish “18/31R”


AMT-Model

The data contains strings with vague expressions. This vagueness is modelled using the Academic Meta Tool. The AMT-Model depends on the keywords AND (AMT-weight = 1) and OR (AMT-weight/2). Attributions for e.g. productionscenters can result in more than one place, which has to be recorded accordingly. This vagueness has been taken into consideration with the Linked Open Samian Ware Project.

In the following examples the relations for the potter Quietus/Quetus (ae_5889), his production centres as well as the information carrier 118117 (ic_118117) are mapped.

AMT-Model Examples

Example 1:

Samian AMT-Model for the potter Quietus/Quetus (ae_5889) and the productioncentre Rheinzabern (loc_pc_2000047):

Example Query: Filter all weights for the Potter Quietus’ Productioncentres:

The String containing the necessary data reads as follows “Kräherwald and Rheinzabern”

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>
PREFIX amt: <http://academic-meta-tool.xyz/vocab#>
PREFIX samian: <http://data.archaeology.link/data/samian/>

SELECT ?subject ?subjectLabel ?predicateLabel ?objectLabel ?weight WHERE {
  ?subject lado:hasAMT ?amt.
  ?amt rdf:subject ?subject.
  ?subject rdfs:label ?subjectLabel.
  ?amt rdf:predicate ?predicate.
  ?predicate rdfs:label ?predicateLabel.
  ?amt rdf:object ?object.
  ?object rdfs:label ?objectLabel.
  ?amt amt:weight ?weight.
  FILTER(?subject = samian:ae_5889)
  FILTER(?predicate = lado:worksAtPlace)
  FILTER (lang(?predicateLabel) = 'en')
}
  

Output:

subject subjectLabel predicateLabel objectLabel weight
samian:ae_5889 “Quietus (Quetus)”@en “works at place”@en “Kräherwald”@en 1
samian:ae_5889 “Quietus (Quetus)”@en “works at place”@en “Rheinzabern”@en 1

-> Quietus worked at Kräherwald AND Rheinzabern, so the weight results in 1



Example 2:

Samian AMT-Model for information carrier 118117 (ic_118117) and the productioncentre Rheinzabern (loc_pc_2000047):

Example Query: Filter all weights for the Kilnsites of Information Carrier 118117:

The String containing the necessary data reads as follows “Kräherwald and Rheinzabern”

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>
PREFIX amt: <http://academic-meta-tool.xyz/vocab#>
PREFIX samian: <http://data.archaeology.link/data/samian/>

SELECT ?subject ?subjectLabel ?predicateLabel ?objectLabel ?weight WHERE {
  ?subject lado:hasAMT ?amt.
  ?amt rdf:subject ?subject.
  ?subject rdfs:label ?subjectLabel.
	?amt rdf:predicate ?predicate.
  ?predicate rdfs:label ?predicateLabel.
  ?amt rdf:object ?object.
  ?object rdfs:label ?objectLabel.
  ?amt amt:weight ?weight.
  FILTER(?subject = samian:ic_118117)
  FILTER(?predicate = lado:hasKilnsite)
  FILTER (lang(?predicateLabel) = 'en')
}
  

Output:

subject subjectLabel predicateLabel objectLabel weight
samian:ic_118117 “redslipvessel formtype 15/17 or 18 or 18/31”@en “has kilnsite”@en “Kräherwald”@en 1
samian:ic_118117 “redslipvessel formtype 15/17 or 18 or 18/31”@en “has kilnsite”@en “Rheinzabern”@en 1

-> The Informationcarrier’s Productioncentre has been attributed to Kräherwald AND Rheinzabern, so the weight results in 1



Example 3:

Samian AMT-Model for information carrier 118117 (ic_118117) and the potform 18 (pf_9):

Example Query: Filter all weights for the potforms of Information Carrier 118117:

The String containing the necessary data reads as follows “15/17 or 18 or 18/31”

  
PREFIX rdf: <http://www.w3.org/1999/02/22-rdf-syntax-ns#>
PREFIX lado: <http://archaeology.link/ontology#>
PREFIX rdfs: <http://www.w3.org/2000/01/rdf-schema#>
PREFIX amt: <http://academic-meta-tool.xyz/vocab#>
PREFIX samian: <http://data.archaeology.link/data/samian/>

SELECT ?subject ?subjectLabel ?predicateLabel ?objectLabel ?weight WHERE {
	?subject lado:hasAMT ?amt.
  ?amt rdf:subject ?subject.
  ?subject rdfs:label ?subjectLabel.
	?amt rdf:predicate ?predicate.
  ?predicate rdfs:label ?predicateLabel.
  ?amt rdf:object ?object.
  ?object rdfs:label ?objectLabel.
  ?amt amt:weight ?weight.
  FILTER(?subject = samian:ic_118117)
  FILTER(?predicate = lado:representedBy)
  FILTER (lang(?predicateLabel) = 'en')
}
  

Output:

subject subjectLabel predicateLabel objectLabel weight
samian:ic_118117 “redslipvessel formtype 15/17 or 18 or 18/31”@en “represented by”@en “15/17” 0.330000013
samian:ic_118117 “redslipvessel formtype 15/17 or 18 or 18/31”@en “represented by”@en “18” 0.330000013
samian:ic_118117 “redslipvessel formtype 15/17 or 18 or 18/31”@en “represented by”@en “18/31” 0.330000013

-> The Informationcarriers either has the potform 15/17, 18 OR 18/31 (vagueness), so each weight results in 0.33



Provenance Modelling

The provenance information for the transformation process is stored using the PROV-O ontology. Each entity is modelled as item which is derived form the Samian Research database, was attributed to the Python Transformation Script which acted on behalf of Research Engineers (RGZM), and was generated by an Algorithm Activity (associated with the Python Transformation Script) with a defined start and ending point.



CSV-Documentation

File Structure

The CSV files can be downloaded under https://www1.rgzm.de/ips/lod/{filename}.csv

The CSV files are split into the categories Instances, containing unique lists (of classes/objects), and Semantic Relations, containing the necessary crosstables to link our instances by their IDs.

Instances

Name Columns Definition
actorsasaconcept id identifier (numeric)
  name name of the potter
chiefpotter id identifier (numeric)
  name name of the potter
  praenomen praenomen of the potter
  cognomen cognomen of the potter
  dependent name of associated dependent potter(s)
  gentilicium family name (gentilicium)
  partner name of associated partner potter(s)
  kilnsite related production centre(s)
cooperationandchiefpotter id identifier (numeric)
  name name of the potter
  praenomen praenomen of the potter
  cognomen cognomen of the potter
  dependent name of associated dependent potter(s)
  gentilicium family name (gentilicium)
  partner name of associated partner potter(s)
  kilnsite related production centre(s)
cooperationpotter id identifier (numeric)
  pottername name of the potter
  praenomen praenomen of the potter
  cognomen cognomen of the potter
  dependent name of associated dependent potter(s)
  gentilicium family name (gentilicium)
  partner name of associated partner potter(s)
  kilnsite related production centre(s)
dependentpotter id identifier (numeric)
  name name of the dependent potter
discoverysite id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)
  long longitude
  pleiades_id pleiades id
  ancientname ancient name of the site
  wkt well-known text format
genericpotform id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)
independentpotter id identifier (numeric)
  pottername name of the potter
  praenomen praenomen of the potter
  cognomen cognomen of the potter
  dependent name of associated dependent potter(s)
  gentilicium family name (gentilicium)
  partner name of associated partner potter(s)
  kilnsite related production centre(s)
informationcarrier id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)
  shapes formtype (int)
  number number of items
  kilnsite related production centre(s)
  pottername name of the potter
  die die stamp or stylus
  site discoverysite of the object(s)
  repositorysite repositorysite of the object(s)
inscriptiondie id identifier (numeric)
  reading reading of the inscription
  simplereading simplified reading of the inscription
  direction reading direction of the inscription
inscriptiongraffito id identifier (numeric)
  reading reading of the inscription
  simplereading simplified reading of the inscription
  direction reading direction of the inscription
inscriptionmakingtypedie id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)
  pottername name of the potter
  die die stamp or stylus
inscriptionmakingtypestylus id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)
  pottername name of the potter
  die die stamp or stylus
kilnregion id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)
  kilnregion_centroid_wkt well-known text centroid (geometry)
  kilnregion_wkt well-known text (geometry)
partnerpotter id identifier (numeric)
  name name of the potter
placeasaconcept id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)
potformgaulish id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)
  image image of potform
  genericform generic potform label
  tradition pottery tradition
potformitalian id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)
  image image of potform
  genericform generic potform label
  tradition pottery tradition
productioncentre id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)
  kilnregion productioncentre region
  lat latitude (geometry)
  long longitude (geometry)
  wkt well-known text format (geometry)
repositorylocation id identifier (numeric)
  label identifier (string)


Semantic Relations

Name Columns Definition
ct_ac_ae ac_id actorsasaconcept.id
  ae_id chiefpotter.id, cooperationpotter.id, independentpotter.id - partnerpotter.id, dependentpotter.id, cooperationandchiefpotter.id
ct_cpchp_dp cpchp_id cooperationandchiefpotter.id
  dp_id dependentpotter.id
ct_cpchp_pp cpchp_id cooperationandchiefpotter.id
  pp_id partnerpotter.id
ct_ae_pc ae_id ct_ac_ae.fk2
  pc_id ct_ac_ae.productioncentre
  weight ct_ae_pc_2.weight
ct_chp_dp chp_id chiefpotter.id
  dp_id dependentpotter.id
ct_cp_pp cp_id cooperationpotter.id
  pp_id partnerpotter.id
ct_ic_ds ic_id informationcarrier.id
  ds_id discoverysite.id
ct_ic_in ic_id informationcarrier.id
  pottername informationcarrier.pottername
  die informationcarrier.die
ct_ic_pc ic_id ct_ic_pc_2.id
  pc_id productioncentre.id
  weight ct_ic_pc_2.weight
ct_ic_pf ic_id ct_ic_pf_2.id
  weight ct_ic_pf_2.weight
  pf_id potform.id
ct_ic_plc plc_id placeasaconcept.id
  ic_id informationcarrier.id
ct_ic_rl ic_id informationcarrier.id
  rl_id repositorylocation.id
ct_in_ac in_id inscription.id
  ac_id actorsasaconcept.id
ct_mt_in in_id inscription.id
  mt_id inscriptionmakingtype.id
ct_pc_kr kr_id kilnregion.id
  pc_id productioncentre.id
ct_pf_gf gf_id genericpotform.id
  pf_id potform.id
ct_plc_ds plc_id placeasaconcept.id
  ds_id discoverysite.id
ct_plc_pc plc_id placeasaconcept.id
  pc_id productioncentre.id
ct_plc_rl plc_id placeasaconcept.id
  rl_id repositylocation.id