The following note expands on the background to the work to develop a new
standard time-period terminology.
 
The FISHEN view of the world is that there are two types of data standard:
Content standards and Terminology standards. 

Content standards define the sorts of information that should be included in
a record of a given item, be it a monument, an archaeological event, an
archive or whatever. A content standard consists of a list of 'facts'
referred to as 'units of information' that should be recorded for each
instance of the items being recorded. The intention of a content standard is
to ensure that different organisations recording the same sort of items all
record all the information needed. Imagine, for example, a blank recording
form with boxes for different sorts of information. Broadly speaking the
boxes equate to 'units of information'. Now imagine looking at a form from
another organisation and realising that their form doesn't include that
vital fact that you use all the time on your form (e.g. Parish Name). That's
a data content problem. The FISHEN standard for content is MIDAS, published
in 1998, which many of you will be familiar with. A summary version is
available to e-conference subscribers  by sending the message 

get fishen midas.txt
stop

to [log in to unmask], or you can view it on the web via the FISHEN
homepage at http://www.mda.org.uk/fishen/

Terminology standards define lists of appropriate terms that should be used
for recording a particular unit of information. The intention here is to
work towards a situation where searches can be made of different sets of
data using common terminology. This is a key factor in what is increasingly
referred to as computer database  'interoperability'. Minor differences in
terminology may not be a problem for human users, but, for example, the
difference between  ST. NEOT'S, ST NEOTS or even ST  NEOTS (count the
spaces...) will make all the difference  for computerised searching of
databases. To move towards this objective FISHEN is developing a suite of
terminology standards (or wordlists) under the overall title of
'INSCRIPTION' to complement the MIDAS units of information. 

It is the appropriate terminology or wordlist to record the  'Period' unit
of information which forms the subject of this e-conference. The Period unit
of information is currently defined as follows

"Period: Describes the archaeological period to which a monument belongs."

The definition as it stands suggests that appropriate terminology should be
limited to 'archaeological periods'. However, should we, for example,
include cultural terms, architectural style terms, historic events etc?
There is a need for a constant dialogue between content standards and
terminology standards in order to develop both.

I'll expand on what I see as the main issues we'll need to consider in a
separate mailing. I'd welcome comments on any of the above, preferably to
the list so as to open up the discussion.

Edmund Lee
FISHEN Co-ordinator



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