CIPA 2003 XIX th International Symposium, 30 September - 04 October, 2003, Antalya, Turkey
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However, in some areas/activities these standards do not reflect
the needs and practices of other countries.
Another current practice is that worldwide the public and
private sector interests have reduced their investment in the
development of globally accepted standards because of
downsizing and deregulation. In addition to this, there is a
limitation of rights for the use of the standards which prevents
governments, businesses and clients from being able to afford
to use the standards. In order to increase the rights for the use
of these standards a much larger financial investment is
necessary.
Unfortunately libraries, museums and archaeological
departments as well as NGOs in the area of cultural heritage
are commonly known to be under strict budgetary constraints.
Their involvement in using standardization is largely a question
of finances since the experts are already aware of its need.
The cultural heritage experts are also under further pressure
from their homeland country in that when standards are applied
these standards must also comply with the specific
government’s laws, regulations and procurement processes.
Due to the history and difficulties incurred through the use or
attempted use of standardization it is often desired to exclude
the experts, technology and/or the standards themselves from
supporting the documentation, protection and preservation of
cultural heritage. This, however, is detrimental for the current
and future preservation of culture throughout the entire world.
Experts around the world also share this opinion and continue
working towards an improvement to the current situation. The
present developments in this area are two-fold. Further
discussion will be focused on the practical application of
standardization and then the methodology offered to
professionals in this field today.
In some initiations through different European funded projects
consortia of specialists from different countries in Europe and
around the Mediterranean in the area of culture heritage have
developed useful universal systems and techniques for the
documentation, preservation and archiving of cultural heritage
artefacts, monuments and sites.
The case study presented is the two year EU funded Jewelmed
project for the comparative analysis of manufacturing
technologies in goldsmithing and silversmithing from the VII to
I century B.C. in the Mediterranean area (www.jewelmed.net).
Ancient gold- and silversmithing can only be appreciated by
accurately surveying materials and understanding . their
historical value. The art of goldsmithing is one of the most
relevant forms of expression in ancient times, therefore,
archaeological research and analysis in this area is paramount to
the understanding of cultural norms, social organisation,
technological capacity, economic development and cultural
exchanges. This kind of research is often hindered by the lack
of a common descriptive glossary, carefully elaborated
technological definitions and a distinctive data structure and
coding system. The goal of the JewelMed project was to
elaborate these necessary research tools.
If, on the one hand, the JewelMed project did not include a
specific research activity, on the other hand, it indeed
highlighted the need and possibility to expand knowledge,
create a common lansuase and set the foundations for further
research. In this regard, one must give due consideration to the
successful elaboration of a standard, universal and unique
language of documentation and filing/cataloguing
methodology. Internal networks facilitated the creation of a
complex database, while, through the use of information
technology, each object can be classified and entered into the
filing system on the basis of its various characteristics. Thus,
one can easily select and retrieve individual records - by
typology, chronology, origin, etc. - as well as an item’s
technology, materials and decorative patterns.
JewelMed’s extensive data structure, dynamic database and
multimedia technology demonstrate, in an objective way, the
possibilities and flaws of universal ancient jewellery
documentation. Consequently, important developments can be
achieved beyond the limits of the specific work in progress. The
elaboration and publishing of a vocabulary in English (standard
ancient jewellery glossary), with complementary translations in
the most important languages, is an example of such
developments. This vocabulary represents a significant
contribution to research and communication between various
countries. The continuous input into the JewelMed stand alone
database (library) will increase the value of available
knowledge, which, until now, has been sporadically and
incompletely presented. Should this library go on-line (on the
Internet - e-Library) everyone can have access to inform
themselves about ancient jewellery and also have the possibility
to update the library for future developments.
Another advantage of using common regulations is that
standardized codified knowledge will reduce the damages
derived from collectivism and other illicit trade activities thus
preventing present and future cultural heritage, such as
historical awareness and knowledge, from being impoverished.
It is possible to glean the complexity of the aforementioned
transformations and meanings from JewelMed’s database. Part
of the content in this database is supported by scientific
literature and characterization leading to further analyses and
important developments. Appropriate typological and
archeometric analyses allow unveiling of production details,
single components, assembly methods and instruments. This
information may help clarify the complex exchanges and
interactions between different cultures and jewellery creation
centers. In some cases through the careful design of the data
structure of such standards innumerable advantages can be
provided by the wealth of information being accessed through
the database systems (libraries).
Evidence of such an activity was provided during the
Jewelmed project concerning Malta. Important information
was found concerning the trade routes and fashions in this
geographic area. Malta was an important stop in the heavily
navigated Sicilian Canal and it became a crucial location for
interactions between Italian and Greek cultures, on the one
hand, and Phoenician-Punic cultures and colonies, on the other.
Even though the contemporary collection of items is not very
numerous, the coming and going of different jewellery
traditions and typologies in the Mediterranean basin can still be
clearly traced. Objects of Phoenician-Punic typology and the
presence of Egyptian elements in the Greek jewellery of late
Classic era, even if in small fragments, reveal fashions and
behaviours of the inhabitants or visitors to Malta (JewelMed).
This case study provides an example of the practical
application of standardization. On the other hand, the CIDOC
Conceptual Reference Model (CRM) presents probably the
