FAIR Epigraphic Vocabularies: Execution Technique

Classifications based on the execution techniques of inscribed texts

Website: https://ontology.inscriptiones.org/execution_technique

Github: https://github.com/FAIR-epigraphy/ontology

The FAIR Execution Technique vocabulary provides a hierarchical classification system that categorises inscriptions according to the technique and/or tools used to execute the text of the inscription. Building on the EAGLE Europeana Project's foundational work (Liuzzo et al. 2013; Liuzzo 2015), which produced the first controlled vocabulary for execution technique, Silvia Evangelisti and Pietro Liuzzo consolidated and formalised the original vocabularies (Evangelisti 2017; Liuzzo and Evangelisti 2021). Petra Heřmánková (FAIR Epigraphy) subsequently proposed a new implementation and alignment with other projects.

The FAIR Execution technique vocabularies represent a practical implementation of previous proposals through an augmented hierarchical structure, improved formal definitions, examples from major epigraphic databases, and alignment with external authorities, including the Getty Art & Architecture Thesaurus, Wikidata, and EpiVoc. 

Each term includes detailed formal definitions, scope notes clarifying boundaries with related concepts, using SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organisation System) properties to express broader, narrower, and related connections, and usage examples drawn from published corpora. This structure facilitates comparative research and ensures metadata consistency across digital epigraphic projects whilst maintaining interoperability with existing databases and standards.

The vocabulary comprises two conceptual groups: (a) the main writing techniques, further specified by tools and implements, and materials used, (b) visual characteristics of inscribed text, i.e., groove profiles or letter forms, (c) unassigned records, (d) records where their creators were unable to determine their execution technique or any other category. The recommendation to users is to combine multiple vocabularies to describe the act of inscribing the text in as many details as possible, within the controlled vocabulary framework.

Aligned epigraphic projects and databases

ISicily: https://isicily.org/

EDR (Epigraphic Database Roma): http://www.edr-edr.it/

EDH (Epigraphic Database Heidelberg): https://edh.ub.uni-heidelberg.de/

RIB (Roman Inscriptions of Britain): https://romaninscriptionsofbritain.org/

AGP (Ancient Graffiti Project): https://ancientgraffiti.org/

EDB (Epigraphic Database Bari): http://www.edb.uniba.it/

USEP (U.S. Epigraphy

Acknowledgements

We gratefully acknowledge the foundational work of the EAGLE Europeana Project in establishing controlled vocabularies for digital epigraphy. We are particularly grateful to Silvia Evangelisti and Pietro Liuzzo for their invaluable contribution to the development of the vocabulary and their ongoing support. We express our gratitude also to the FAIR Epigraphy partners and Epigraphy.info community, especially the members of the Vocabularies Working Group, for their engagement in advancing FAIR principles in digital epigraphy and building community-wide standards.

Version note

The current version 1.0.0 represents the first official release.

Anyone wishing to contribute can do so either by contacting the authors (PH is the responsible author), or creating an issue via GitHub (https://github.com/FAIR-epigraphy/ontology/issues).