A Grammar of the Archaeological Record (Version 2, Beta release)

I. The System. Archive structure

Files

Giorgio Buccellati – November 2009, July 2025

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Introduction

We consider here only the file labels. within folders of type 1 or 2

The content of files to be processed by the programs is discussed in the separate website Digital Operation Manual.

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Universal codes

An underscore trait in front of a file indicates that the file will not be processed by a program, see for instance:

_files ZJ720.md a single underscore indicates that an earlier version of the file from which this page is generated is not to be processed, but is retained in the main subfolder for consultation
__ files ZJ715.md a double underscore indicates that an earlier version of the file from which this page is generated is retained as a backup for future reference, and is to be filed in a separate subfolder named "INACTIVE."

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File labels for folders of type 1

There is no restriction as to the format of the label for files in folders of type 1.

The only restriction is that extensions .J and .MD, are required for files to be processed respectively by the programs JD and MID.

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Files with extension .J for JD program

It is suggested that the labels for .J files include simply the date (in the Mozan format) and the initials of the person who wrote the file, with or without a space between the two. It is also possible to add a few words about the content.

Here are two examples of labels:

  • J05/I/J/S721 JW.J
  • A12/I/J/ZI910mKB seal impressions.J
folder date initials content extension
J05/I/J/ S721
(= July 21, 2008)
JW
(= James L. Walker)
J
A12/I/J/ ZI910
(= September 19, 2024)
mKB
(= Marilyn Kelly-Buccellati)
seal impressions J

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Files widh extension .MD for MID program

Folders and full labels:

  • A20/I/PAGES/A1/Overview.md
  • GRM/I/PAGES/A2/05.Categorization principles.md
  • MZS/I/PAGES/C2/surface_finds.md
folder label extension
A20/I/PAGES/A1/ Overview MD
GRM/I/PAGES/A2 05.Categorization principles MD
MZS/I/PAGES/C2/ surface_finds MD

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File labels for folders of type 2 (V/W)

Each label follows a strictly delimited format. It consists of six fields, of which the first four are required (highlighted here in grey), while hte first five do not allow spaces. See the following examples:

  1. V23d2016 J2q566.2 U816 dM fg f220.jpg
  2. V19d3001 J3v10 P801 dM.JPG
  3. V16d7017 MCVv1 N711 jjj Zcs-an fox hole.JPG
  4. V18d8013 MCVv4 P818 dM Zcs-mt localized shelter from above.JPG
  5. V23Fp0101 MPRv200 ZA614 xxx -vs visiting students from Hassaka.jpg
  6. W23Nc1503 A10q0249.1 xxxx mTS si cylinder seal partial bird table.JPG
  7. W23Od0118 A01.221 xxxx cJH si f729.JPG
1
referent
2
element
3
date
4
initials
5
definition
6
notes
1 V23d2016 J2q566.2 U816 dM fg f220
2 V19d3001 J3v10 P801 dM
3 V16d7017 MCVv1 N711 jJJ Zcs6-an fox hole
4 V18d8013 MCVv4 P818 dM Zcs-mt localized shelter from above
5 V23Fp0101 MPRv200 ZA614 xxx -vs visiting students from Hassaka
6 W23Nc1503 A10q0249.1 xxxx mTS si cylinder seal partial bird table
7 W23Od0118 A01.221 xxxx cJH si f729

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Field 1: referent

This field consists of the subfolder label (e. g., V23d20) followed by a sequential number of the photo or drawing (e.g., 16).

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Field 2: element

This field gives the label of the element in question.

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Field 3: date

This field gives the date in the standard Mozan format.

If a date is unknown, one uses xxxx.

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Field 4: initials

This field gives the initials of the file author in hte standard Mozan format.

If the author is unknown, one uses xxx.

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Field 5: definition

This field gives the definition of the element in question, according to the list given in the main lexicon.

In practice, this field is used especially for movable items, since, for stationary items (as in example 2), a “view” typically includes several features and also items. It is primarily with conservation and site presentation images that the fifth field is used, as in examples 3-4.

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Field 6: notes

This field is in free format, and allows spaces


The file labels of the VW folders have a strict format because they are processed as such by the VWX program.

V15d7511 ‑zc_test_on_mortar_just_made M922 sb
xxx M922 sb Zco
V15d7501 A12.149 M914 sb
A12.149 M914 sb Zco
V16d7001 -zc_north_lip N709 jlw
MCVv1 N709 jlw Zcs1:df north_lip
V16d7017 -zc_foxhole N711 jjj
MCVv2 N711 jjj Zcs6:an foxhole
V17d9001 -ZC O821 gb
MCVv3 O821 gb Zcs4:wf
V18d8003 -preservation P818 dM mt palace system from above
MCVv4 P818 dM Zcs2:sc scaffolding under construction
V19i3901 -zcw Q928 BML wall stabilization
MCVv5 Q928 BML Zcs1:st wall stabilization
V19i0101
[under illegal folders]
Xmd Qx03 bML wahal in joints J2
MCVv6 Qx03 bML Zcs1:md wahal in joints J2
V21x9201 -x S719 cL x general
MCVv6 S719 cL Zcs
V22x1001 Z11v16 T726 gW X1
MCVv T726 gW Zcs
V23x0103 -zc Ux06 aMH zc
MCVv Ux06 zc Zcs

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Correlations

    000203    within lot
A1q2-b3.1    A1 \ O \ QB \ 00020301 individual bone within bone group
A1q2-i   A1 \ O \ QI \ 0002 item lot (may include pebbles, beads, wheel)
(A1q2-i3) A1q2.3 A1 \ O \ QI \ 000203 identified item lot (e.g., a bead lot)
(A1q2-i3.4) A1q2.3.4 A1 \ O \ QI \ 00020304 individual
A1q2-p   A1 \ O \ QP \ 0002 pottery lot
A1q2-p3 A1q2.3.4   color medium format
A1q2-p3.4   A1 \ O \ QP \ 00020304 individual sherd within a sherd group

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-------------

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Labels for ZC referents

Directories:

Z10 Palace walls
Z11 Temple Terrace walls
Z12 Temple walls


r room (Z11rA1)
v view (V11x)
w wall



For conservation photos:

V15x01 monitoring of individual walls
V15x49

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Part Two. Analysis-Section A. Constituents

V15x50 activities
V15x60 coverings and floors
V15x70 monitoring mechanisms
V15x80 deterioration
V15x90 post-excavation history


V21x0201 X05v49 S720 cL 2008 B1north.JPG [old X format]
V22x0201 Z11v49 S720 cL Z11rB1-north.JPG by room
V21x0316 Z11v68 S721 cL Z11rC1-east.JPG [old format, view number out of sequence, Z11rC1 allows sorting by room]

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Special books

Special books My16:

V13a archive
V13d digital
V99 replaces VG for general
W13w
W13a
W13p
W13b
W13t
drawings (or)
pencil (or)
preliminary (or)
traced (or)
traced, inked
X13p plates
X13t thumbnails moved to VW13

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Constituent label and archive structure

[TEXT MISSING, ZGy20 mDP]

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Summary

archive structure_Fig. 13-3

Fig. 13-3: Directory structure for individual Units (O320 based on Mx04).
Note: Italics (on white background) refer to categories not present in digital archive.

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Incidentals

As indicated, incidentals approximate the status of constituents, even though they are structurally quite distinct. One major difference is that there is no sequential numbering of incidentals. Accordingly there is, properly speaking, no real label for incidentals, even if one may use “A1-sg” to refer to a discussion about strategy within A1. In point of fact, such a form of labeling is used within the archive, where observations about overall strategy will be found, sorted chronologically, within a directory \MZ\A\O-\SG.
The codes used to denote incidentals belong, as I have stressed (see section 2.2) to an open system, and are listed lexically in section 7.5.4.

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Figures

rchive structure 32.9.2nd-chart

Fig. 12-1: Constituents Labels.



archive structure 32.9

Fig. 12-2: Archive Structure.



archive structure 32.9.3rd-chart
Fig. 12-3: Subdivision between ranks 1 and 2.

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