The Grammar of the Archaeological Record

1. The System

32. Archive Structure

Giorgio Buccellati – November 2009

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.1: Correlation between labels and archive

There is a close correlation between … [missing ending to this sentence, ZGy20 mDP]
The labels (in their primary sense, i.e., the generic labels) define, at the same time, the structure of a major portion of the archive, since the subdivisions therein correspond exactly to the categories represented by the labels.
Because of this correlation, I will describe together, in this chapter, the structure of both the constituents and the archive. This correlation is highlighted in Figures 12-1 and 12-2 (section 32.9, bottom of this page), which present graphically and side by side the data discussed below.

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.2: Archive structure: Directories

As indicated above (3.1), the structure of the archive mirrors that of the label (4). In other words, subdirectories and files correspond to the various segments of the label, as high­lighted graphically the juxtaposition of charts 12-1 and 12-2 given below.
Thus, the same four ranks present in the directory tree that are found in the label structure, and in addition there are two sub-ranks (subsidiary ranks), labeled 1a and 2a, which reflect subdivisions of the respectively higher ranks 1 and 2 (see Fig. 12-3, bottom of this page).
As a result, there is a total of six ranks and sub-ranks, which function as subdirectories progressively nested within each other – except for ranks 3 and rank 4 which are listed sequentially. Files are found as appropriate within given directories depending on the nature of the directory.
The first rank is reserved for the site, which is placed directly within the root directory; for Mozan, this is \MZ.

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.2.1: Rank 2a, for directories only: Type of data

The letters that follow in the alphabet are reserved for volumes that deal with the analysis of specific aspects of the record, as follows:

  • T.Typological analysis.
  • V.Visuals, i.e., photography.
  • W. – draWings (both hand drawn and digital).
  • X. – site wide indeXes now in MZ\A\MZ.
  • Y. – surveYing.
  • Z. – site overall.

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.2.2: Part Two. Analysis Section A. Constituents

Besides the O sequence, other two letter labels are possible for rank 1, but only for directories, not for constituents, e.g., VW.
Volumes dealing with a type of analysis can also include numbers or letter characters, with a criterion similar to that used for topographic areas. A numeric code is used to indicate a purely sequential order: for example, Y1 stands for the marker log produced by the surveyor, and Z1 stands for the log of surface objects. An alphabetic code, on the other hand, stands for a subtype of analysis: for example, TC stands for ceramic analysis within typology, and ZS stands for storage lists.
Following is a sample list of codes used for subtypes of analysis (this is an open list, and codes may be added at will):

T = Typological

  • TA – physical anthropology
  • TB – paleo-botany
  • TC – conservation
  • TE – epigrapghy
  • TF – figurines
  • TG – glyptic
  • TO – objects
  • TP – pottery
  • TZ – paleo-zoology

Z = Site general (procedural aspects)

  • ZA – synopses (seasons, initials, etc.)
  • ZC – conservation
  • ZI – inventory
  • ZP – site presentation
  • ZR – region
  • ZS – storage
  • ZT – transfers
  • ZSB – basic study collection
  • ZSC – conservation collection
  • ZSD – main display collection
  • ZSN – natural science collection (seeds, soil)
  • ZSP – basic study colletion
  • ZSS – pottery library
  • ZST – technical display collection
  • ZSZ – zoology collection

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.2.3: Constituent label and archive structure

ZT: transfers (lists of objects transferred to Museum, shipment of samples, etc.).

Notes on conservation (Qz09) potential indexable labels for wall conservation:


M

30

mudbrick walls –Palace

S

31

mudbrick walls– AA houses

U

40

stone architecture–Temple Terrace

X

50

sections

Z



The maximum range allowed for a numeric sequence is 2 digits, hence the maximum number allowed is 99.

For the Outer City, the 40 sequence is for foot survey transects (e.g., OD40), and the 50 sequence for units in cases where we are not sure of the units already declared (e.g., OD50).

In the case of V books (for photographs), the second part corresponds to the season, thus V10 stands for photographs taken during the 10th season.
Since study seasons are labeled with a letter suffix after the number of the previous excavation season, book labels for visuals are the only ones that may include a letter after a number, e.g., V10A for photographs taken during the study season 10A.

NB: for a file with all the old codes of seasons (until August 2022), see here; for the new codes (established September 2022, during the workshop “Beola 2“), see here.

Subcomponent reduced from 100 to A0, 112 to B2, etc.

To sum up, the book code may appear with a minimum of 2 characters and a maximum of 4, in one of the configurations shown below in Fig. 12-4, where the range of possible codes is also indicated, followed by some examples of acceptable book labels.

Area
Analysis
Zone
Area
Type
Subtype
sequence
function
sequence
function
A ... S
OA ... OS
1 ... 99
A ... Z
T ... Z
1 ... 99
A ... Z


Fig. 12-4: Structure of Rank 2: Book

Examples: Area Analysis

  • two characters: A1, AK, TC, Z1
  • three characters: A10, OH2, OHA, V8A
  • four characters: OS12, V10A

Following is a list of all constituent codes in alphabetical order:

Codes Normal constituents V book (digital) see separate file V book (pre-digital)
a aggregate archive  
b assemblage   black/white, 35 mm
c composite   color, 35 mm
d   digital  
e trace extra (after ex-cav.) b/w, medium format
f feature   color medium format
g graphic    
h phase    
i item infrared  
j join    
k locus kite  
m marker    
n neative    
p plot print  
q quantity lot  
r relay    
s stratum scans  
t trace    
u   unit photos  
v view    
w drawing, measured    
y drawing, schemantic    
x indices   unclear or mixed strata
z zero    


The sub-rank 1a is the archive (abbreviated A). In the system configuration as presented here, this is the only category for rank 1a. The reason why this uniform label is not redundant is because there are other codes which are not discussed in this volume simply because they do not pertain to the topic of grammar. They include: F for financial, L for logistics and P for publications.

The second rank is for the book label, which is the same as discussed above (32.2). Thus, for instance, we would have \MZ\A\A1, \MZ\A\OS12 or \MZ\A\Z1.
The sub-rank 2a is for the type of data, of which there are five:

  • I: Input
  • O: Output
  • G: Graphics
  • T: Text
  • X: indices and tabulations

Examples are: \MZ\A\A1\O, MZ\A\A1\T.

The third rank is for constituents, and the fourth for components. Constituent + component are found as subdirectories listed alphabetically after the pertinent component, as follows:

 F features  I items  Q q-lots
 FB bones within features  IB bones within items  QB bones within q-lots
 FO objects within features  IO objects within items  QO objects within q-lots
 FP pottery within features  IP pottery within items  QP pottery within q-lots
 FS samples within features  IS samples within items  QS samples within q-lots


 V13\G\d13\V13d1364 … .TIF  for large display
 V13\G\ TN\T_V13d13\TN_V13d1364 ….JPG  for thumbnails
 V13\G\LoRes\L_V13d13\LR_V13d1364 ….JPG  



File structure of .A files

 A12i0108      
  File produced on 08-08-2000 - Source File: A12\001.E - Standards: -F-A.001; -E-R.003      
 B01  K720  ed  cv
 B10  K803  gg  V13d1694
 O03  K724  gg  V13d1636


Item Label Directory File
A1q2-p (Ali2)   individual
A1q2-p3   A1 \ O \ QP \ 0002 pottery lot
A1q2.3.4   A1 \ O \ QI \ 00020304 color medium format


[last table to be reviewed, ZGy20 mDP]

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.2.4: Constituent label and archive structure

    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

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.3: Archive Structure Files

The sequence of directories corresponds to each of the possible ranks and sub-ranks, so that file names consist exclusively of the sequential number of constituents and, where necessary, components. Files within V-books may have an optional letter character suffix.
To ensure a proper sequence with any type of directory listing, leading hyphens (-) are added in each case; hyphens are used instead of zeros because the label is thus more easily readable, as will appear from the examples that follow.
Constituents consist of a total of 4 digits, except for views (within a V-book), which consists of 3 digits plus an optional literal suffix. Leading zeros are used as needed to obtain the maximum of either 4 or 3 digits, e.g., —1 or -100 for all constituents except views, for which a maximum of three digits is found, e.g., –1 or -10 (with an optional suffix: –1A or -10B).
Components consist of two sets of two digits, the first corresponding to the typological, and the second to the sequential, subdivisions, respectively. These are appended to the immediate right of the constituent, resulting in a sequence of either 6 or 8 digits, e.g., —1-2 or —1-2-3.
If a typological component is missing, two hyphens are used to mark its place, e.g., —1—3.
The extension to the file name is given uniformly as .A, for “archive.”
Following is a list that correlates, by way of exemplification, a few constituent labels with their corresponding archive location:

MZ A1f1 MZ\A\A-1\O\F\---1.A
MZ A1f123 MZ\A\A-1\O\F\-123.A
MZ B6v32 MZ\A\B-6\O\V\-32.A
MZ B6v32A MZ\A\B-6\O\V\-32A.A
MZ K1.3 MZ\A\K-1\O\I\---3.A
MZ K1.3-1 MZ\A\K-1\O\I\---3---1.A
MZ A10q8 MZ\A\A10\O\Q\---8.A
MZ A10q8p9 MZ\A\A10\O\QP\---8-9.A
MZ A10q8p9-7 MZ\A\A10\O\QP\---8-9-7.A
MZ A10q8p19-27 MZ\A\A10\O\QP\---81927.A

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.4: V/W directory/file names

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

Labels for VW files (R713)

To be considered (P117)
W17t0102 A16c4~611 P117 mKB
W17t1412 A16.134.12~611 P117 mKB
W17t1412 A16q921.2.1~611 P117 mKB

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

Directories

V14 or W14 (or the like)

A Archive notes and journal files; journal files include V files for assemblages, see e.g., under V17 or V23
D Display html file with reference to .jpg files in G directory
G HiRes high resolution

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.4.1: Constituent label and archive structure

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.4.1.1: Photos (V)

V00 lower case letter in the 00 series is free, thus, g stands for glytic
V14d01_A9v dummy folders, used only to define content; identified by underscore; it contains no files and has no length limits
V15e46 more digital folders for excavation photos, including additions to work done during season - must have 6 - characters each book has a different folder in order to allow for easy storage on unit DVD
V15f46 ditto
V15g46 ditto
V15h46 ditto
V15i46 incidentals
V15k46 k: kite pictures- also gp
V15m46 m: movie clips
V15n46 n: scans from negatives - matches the b numbers
V14p01 p: scans from prints and color slides - matches the c numbers
p: also pilot shots
V20q01 q: scans of shred sections
V14s01 s: photos for storage (equivalent to u)
W15t46 t: details of drawings, e.g. special roster elements - must have 6 characters
V15u01 u: unit photos (not taken by photographer)
V15v01 v: views within V-book (assemblages)
V15w01 w: work in winter (Kamiran, Diadin)
V15x01 x: conservation
V15y01 y: site preservation
LoRes low resolution
W15d46 must have 6 characters

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.4.1.2: Drawings (W)

V14a01 sketches
V14b01 pencil drawings
V14c01 pen drawings
V14d01 vector drawings

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.4.2: Part Two. Analysis Section A. Constituents

TN thumbnails
V14d01 must have 6 characters
T text files, including archival lists of slides
V80 items photographed after excavation
V80d16 A16 (cumularive for all years of excavation)
V80d51 J1
V80e05 A16 after V80d99 is reached
V90 ceramics
special series (e.g., incised sherds) ~ VW99. but buy photographic registrar, and more in the styles of assemblages: individual items or views assembled for typological reasons
V95 (U825)
V95x01
wall conservation - Palace sector A
V95x02 wall conservation - Palace sector B
V95x03 wall conservation - Palace sector C
  V20x0308 X12v21 R723 bML 2007
V21x0308 X12v21 S720 cL 2008
V22x0308 Z11v21 T727 gW C5
V23x0308 AP^wfC5-3 U822 eD
V99 site general (for photos taken during regular seasons, etc.)


1
2
3
4
5
6
7
VW label
VI- label
date
init.
df
notes
ext.
V14d0010
A9v60a
L705
jff
-
bright
jpg,tif.FHx
V14d0016
-wa_A9_dirt_removal
L707
jff
jpg,tif.FHx
V14d0503
A9.98
L716
gg
ma
zc_at
jpg,tif.FHx
V14d0532
A9.149
L722
gg
 
zc_at
jpg,tif.FHx
V14d0550
A9.138
Lx04
gb
si
modern rolling
jpg,tif.FHx
V14d0016
-wa
L707
jff
 
 
jpg,tif.FHx
V14d0016
-wa_A9_dirt_removal
L707
jff
 
 
--
V14d0016
-sf_gb-mkb
L707
jff
 
 
--
V23x0301
AP^C5-7
U822
eD
 
 
 
V23x0302
AP^C5-7a
U822
eD
 
detail of crack
 
V17p2401
A9v169
O714
gg
 
V17c0426
 
L_W15d460
A16c1
M
f
s
 
jpg
1
 
928
lp
i
 
jpg
L_W15d4601
A16c1
M928
flp
si
 
 
L_W17t1602
A16i0108~611
-
-
-
L_W15d4611 A16.0108 M924 fk2 si f0294
jpg
L_W15t4603
A16i0108~612
-
-
-
L_W15d4611 A16.0108 M924 fk2 si f0294
jpg
T_V14d0010
A9v60a
L705
jff
-
-
jpg


Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

Notes

  1. fields 2-5: if a field is missing, enter hyphen (not needed for 5 and 6);
  2. field 2: no spaces allowed, do not use leading zeroes
        with incidentals, there must always be a code consisting of hyphen and two characters
       either by itself, or followed by underscore and additional info (with each word separated by underscore):
  3. field 6: no underscore needed: all words in this field are considered within the field
      underscore can be used to link segments
      abbreviations: bt (before treatment)
     at (after treatment)
     nb (photo with number included)
      period is illegal in this field, as it introduces the extension
      underscore may be used to separate subdivisions within field, e.g. zc_at for conservation after treatment
      fixed format for W17t type files: this field must include the full label of the graphic file for the entire drawing.

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.4.3: Constituent label and archive structure

Field 7: — extension used for dummy files, i.e. files that are empty and give crossreferences in label.
Cf. below, Fig. 13-3 (“Structure of directory and file labels for VW books”).


For W files:
W14db1612 A10q218-p4 L901 xxx cv.jpg
change to
W14b1612 A10q218-p4 L901 xxx cv @W14d1638.jpg


For VDM type label for directories:
VDM922 2139 gg A12 night
change to
^VDM922 2139 gg A12 night
when transferred to V15


For files:
VDM922 2139 gg 9499.JPG
change to
VDM922 2139 gg 9499 @V15d2085.JPG
when transferred to V15 (no caret)


For conservation photos:

V15x01 monitoring of individual walls
V15x50 activities
V15x60 coverings and floors
V15x70 monitoring mechanisms
V15x80 deterioration
V15x90 post-excavation history



 
date
initials
time
subject
initial roll
VDO628
flp
1620
ZSB12 beads
after transfer to V17s
^VDO628
etc.
 
 



 
date
initials
time
seq number
item number
V17 number
indiv.frame
VDO628
flp
1620
6721
A10q78-1
@V17s1201



roll
V17s12
 
dummy
V17s12 beads
empty folder
roll
 
 



 
photo number
item number
date
initials
type
comment
indiv. frame
V17s1201
A10q78-1
O628
flp
bd
frit, oblong, complete
 
no spaces allowed in these 5 fields
spaces allowed


Note: shaded areas are obligatory.

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.5: Labels for ZC referents (T725)

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

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.5.1: 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]

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.6: 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

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.6.1: Constituent label and archive structure

[TEXT MISSING, ZGy20 mDP]

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.7: 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.

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.8: 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.

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure

32.9: 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.

Back to top: 32. Archive Structure