Aggregating Coin Find Data to the ARIADNE Portal. Challenges of using the Getty AAT for a specialist domain

Abstract

Integration of data on coin finds into the ARIADNE portal presents a number of challenges, partly related to the use of the Getty AAT as a controlled vocabulary, in particular its incomplete coverage and hierarchical structure. Further problems arise from the fact that the majority of the data are being provided not from primarily numismatic projects and institutions, but rather from disparate archaeological resources that integrate a wide range of artefacts and records. As a result, they often focus less on the peculiarities of using the AAT for coin finds and the difficulties that arise from its use. This article illustrates how this can lead to quite disparate and inconsistent mappings of data to the ARIADNE portal. Potential solutions such as aligning the AAT to the established vocabulary of Nomisma.org, or even implementing the latter in the portal, as well as implementing a standard mapping for coin finds, are discussed. Also addressed are the possibilities for complex, granular searches using the SPARQL endpoint in the ARIADNElab Virtual Research Area.