Subsections


A guide to the CISP database tables and fields

This chapter describes each table and field in turn and in detail along with allowed entries, meanings and other relevant information. Simple look-up tables will not be discussed in detail. After a few general points, each of the five primary tables are discussed first along with related subsidiary and hierarchical look-up tables, followed by the bibliographic, archive and image subsystems.


General guidelines

Fields marked with a dagger (\dag) are memo fields, fields marked with § are the table's primary key fields.

As a general rule, no entries are to be left blank. If the field is not applicable n/a should be entered; if information is not available, inc (`incomplete') should be entered; if the information will never be available (for example the details of an inscribed cross are too warn to be described) then ind (indeterminate) should be entered.

Memo fields should conform to the following guidelines.


The SITE and related tables

Tables considered in this section are SITE, REGION, ALT_NAME, GRIDREF, SITETYPE, and SAINT. Tables SITE_PUB and SITE_IMG are discussed in sections 15-16.


The SITE table

The `site' is the earliest known location of a stone, not necessarily its current location.

Field Field Name Type Length
       
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
2 Name alphanumeric 30
3 Cel_name alphanumeric 30
4 Place alphanumeric 30
5 Cel_place alphanumeric 30
6 Parish alphanumeric 30
7 Cel_parish alphanumeric 30
8 County alphanumeric 30
9 Cel_county alphanumeric 30
10 Country alphanumeric 30
12 Site_type alphanumeric 5
\dag13 Site_descrip memo -
\dag14 Site_history memo -

  1. Unique five letter alphanumeric code in capitals. Code is derived from the site's name and is assigned by CISP, and acts as the primary key for the table.
  2. Name of site. Use the name current in recent scholarly literature (list alternative names in ALT_NAME table). In most cases this will be the name of an adjacent farm, church or village, or the name of the parish, townland or island. Despite the inconsistencies, names used by previous writers are retained unless there is good reason to change (to differentiate two sites with the same name).
  3. The above name in the local modern Celtic language.
  4. Name of nearest town or village (in Ireland list the townland). In many cases this will be the same name as fields 2-3.
  5. The above name in the local modern Celtic language.
  6. Name of ecclesiastical (not civil) parish (in Ireland list barony; in Brittany list commune).
  7. The above name in the local modern Celtic language.
  8. County (pre-1974 counties for Britain, current counties for Ireland, départements for France)
  9. The above name in the local modern Celtic language, if appropriate.
  10. Country: Scotland, Ireland (not distinguishing between the Republic and Northern Ireland, but see REGION below), Wales, England, Isle-of-Man, Channel-Islands, France.
  11. The site_type is stored as a five letter lower-case code the meanings of which are stored in the hierarchical look-up table SITETYPE discussed on page [*].
  12. \dagSite_descrip: fuller description of extant physical features of site, other standing remains, crop marks, finds. Particular emphasis on early medieval period, but also on earlier phases, later only if deemed relevant (Romanesque church).
  13. \dagSite_history: any relevant historical information, including place-name, documentary refs. to site, including details of any excavation Details of dedication or other associations with saint.

In practice, it proved very difficult to split site_descrip and site_history, and for many sites there was very little information. In the longer term these two fields are likely to be merged.


The SAINT table

The name of any saint associated with site, place-name, church dedication, historical reference . This is stored in a separate table since a site may have more than one, either simultaneously or temporally.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Saint alphanumeric 30

  1. §Site code; links to SITE table.
  2. §Name of saint (without `St').


The REGION table

This table allows otherwise cumbersome searches by historic region. Further regions can be added easily as the need arises. Below are some suggestions.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 County alphanumeric 30
§2 Region alphanumeric 30

  1. §County
  2. §Region

Ireland
Munster, Leinster, Ulster, Connacht; also: Northern Ireland
Scotland
Pictland, Dál Ríada, Between-the-Walls
England
Dumnonia
Wales
1974 counties.
France
historic Brittany, modern administrative Brittany, diocese.
Munster
Kerry, Cork, Waterford, Limerick, Tipperary, Clare
Connacht
Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Roscommon, Leitrim
Leinster
Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois, Wicklow, Offaly, Kildare, Dublin, Meath, Louth, Cavan, Longford, Westmeath
Ulster
Antrim, Down, Armagh, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Donegal, Londonderry, Monaghan
Dál Ríada
Argyll and Southern Hebrides
Pictland
FIF, CLK, PER, ANG, STL, KCD, ABD, BNF, MOR, SUT, CAI, INV, ORK, SHE, ROS, KNR, NAI [replace with full county names].
Between-the-Walls
LNK, RNF, AYR, DMF, WIG, BWK, PEB, DNB, ELO, MLO, ROX, WLO (the British kingdoms between the Roman walls, Strathclyde, Gododdin, Cumbria ) [replace with full county names].

Figure 9: Conversion of OS grid letters to numbers. For example, SS 123 456 becomes 212300 145600.
\includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{map.eps}


The GRIDREF table

National Grid Reference given to monument or centre of site. N.B. To ensure compatibility of grid references all must be stored as 12 figure numbers and, therefore their true accuracy must also be recorded (12 figures implies an accuracy to the nearest metre). This is recorded as a measurement in metres, a GB letters $+$ 8 figure reference (SS 1456 3256) is to 10 metres, 6 figures to 100 metres, and 4 figures to 1km. The GB letters need to be converted to numbers representing their 100km grid square. For the north of Scotland this will result in a 7 figure northing.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
2 System alphanumeric 7
3 East numeric -
4 North numeric -
5 Accuracy numeric -

  1. §The site code.
  2. System (GB, Ireland, France)
  3. Eastings: 6 figure reference to include numeric version of letter code.
  4. Northings: as above (7 figures for the north of Scotland).
  5. Accuracy in metres.


The ALT_NAME table

Alternative name(s) for a site, Inis Cealtra is also known in the literature as `Holy Island' and `Inishcaltra', Toureen Peakaun is also known as `Kilpeakaun'. See also the ALTSNAME table.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Alt_name alphanumeric 40

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The alternative name.


The SITE_TYP table

This is a look-up table for the site_type field of the SITE table.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Sitetype alphanumeric 5
2 Description alphanumeric 25

  1. §A five letter code in lower case.
  2. A description of the site type.

The following lists the contents of this table. It is intended that this list is comprehensive but it may be added to if necessary. The sitetype field contains the allowed codes for the site_type field of the SITE table.

Sitetype Description
   
cemet cemetery[1]
eccle ecclesiastical[2]
inc incomplete information
ind indeterminate
lands landscape setting
modsc modern secondary[3]
n/a not applicable
other other
settl settlement
soutn souterrain

[1] without associated church

[2] church, abbey, early Christian site, including graveyard

[3] First found re-used in a post-medieval context or structure (other than a church), as a gatepost, a house lintel, or in a wall.


The STONE and related tables

Tables considered in this section are the STONE, ALTSNAME, MUSEUM, LOST, OTHERLOC, FOLKLORE, INSCROSS, DECORATN, DECOR_CD, and FORM tables. Tables STON_PUB and STON_IMG are discussed in sections 15-16. Look-up tables CIRCUM, DAMAGE, SETTING, LOCATION, and STATUS are not discussed in detail.


The STONE table

Field Field Name Type Length
       
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
3 Disc_circ alphanumeric 15
4 Disc_when numeric -
5 Disc_who alphanumeric 20
\dag6 Subsq_hist memo -
7 Current_setting alphanumeric 10
8 Current_location alphanumeric 15
\dag9 Loc_notes memo -
10 Mon_form alphanumeric 5
\dag11 Form_notes memo -
12 Completeness alphanumeric 10
13 Preservation alphanumeric 5
\dag14 Prescondnotes memo -
15 M_sources logical -
16 M_height numeric -
17 M_ht_status alphanumeric 10
18 M_width numeric -
19 M_wdth_status alphanumeric 10
20 M_thickness numeric -
21 M_thck_status alphanumeric 10
22 I_source alphanumeric 25
23 I_ht_feet numeric -
24 I_ht_inches numeric -
25 I_ht_status alphanumeric 10
26 I_wd_feet numeric -
27 I_wd_inches numeric -
28 I_wdth_status alphanumeric 10
29 I_th_feet numeric -
30 I_th_inches numeric -
31 I_thck_status alphanumeric 10
32 No_carved alphanumeric 2
\dag33 Decor_notes memo -
34 Visited logical -

  1. §The site code.
  2. §Number assigned by the CISP data entry application (if there is more than one stone at a site, follow traditional numbering where possible).
  3. Circumstances of discovery. These codes are stored in the CIRCUM table: first mentioned (earliest reference in print or archive, circumstances of discovery unknown), arch excav (archaeological excavation), non-arch dig (non-archaeological excavation, laying pipes, digging graves), recognised on standing monument ( stone previously known but inscription not recognised as such), found built in/on structure or wall (when it was pulled down, stone not previously known).
  4. Date of discovery or, if unknown, first publication.
  5. Name of person who discovered stone or, if unknown (or stone was `always known'), who published the first account. Names should be entered surname first, Macalister, R. A. S. If unnamed, phrases like `workmen' are admissable.
  6. \dagNotes on subsequent history of stone, later reuse, removal to other site(s), falling down, re-erection, if once part of named antiquarian collection.
  7. The current setting of the stone: unattch (unattached), in ground, on ground, in struct (in structure), in display (default for museums). Values stored in look-up table SETTING.
  8. Current location: earliest (still in the earliest recorded location); lost; museum; on site (generally on the same site as found, but not in the exact original location, found originally when digging a grave, now set up in the churchyard); other (any other location, for current location see OTHERLOC table). These codes are stored in the LOCATION look-up table.
  9. \dagPrecise description of location and related notes (to enable some one looking for it to find it or differentiate it from other stones, also as a bench-mark in case of future movement or loss).
  10. Physical form of monument: standard terms only permitted -- see description of the FORM table below.
  11. \dagAny further details of the physical form of the stone (excluding ornament).
  12. Degree of completeness: complete (roughly 90-100% of original monument survives), incomplete (60-90%), frgmntry (less than 60%). Values stored in the COMPLETE look-up table.
  13. State of preservation: good, some-damage, poor. Values stored in the DAMAGE look-up table.
  14. \dagNotes on the present condition if further description is necessary, `damaged by recutting for use as building stone', `water-worn', `broken at top', `deteriorated considerably in recent past -- cast in NMI made in 1893 shows more detail'.

Measurements

The maximum height, width and thickness of the stone are recorded. These are defined as follows:

Height
Vertical axis of upright stones, long axis of recumbents (as per original orientation where this can be determined, not as it now lies if fallen). This measurement will usually be the longest of the three
Width
Maximum dimensions of the cross-section, at 90 degrees to height.
Thickness
At 90 degrees to both of the above. This will usually be the shortest measurement of the three.
If additional measurements are required, because the shape is complex, these are put in the physical form notes field.

It is noted whether the measurement is actual (the entire length was available for measurement), visible (part of the stone was not available for measurement because it was embedded in the ground or built into a wall), uncertain (it is impossible to tell from the published account), inc, ind or n/a. The last is used for unmeasured lost stones in particular.

The minimum visible measurement is fixed conventionally as 0.01m. If the information is not known it is given as 0.00m (because the field is numeric therefore inc is a not possible entry).

Following the precedent of the British Academy Corpus of Anglo-Saxon Stone Sculpture, and because most of the published corpora only provide measurements in imperial units, each dimension is expressed in both metric and imperial units (metric since it is the modern scientific standard, imperial since it is thought to approximate to the units in use in the early Medieval period). The source of each measurement is given (either CISP, or bibliographic reference). If measurements are available in only one format (metric or Imperial), the CISP data entry application provides automated conversion to the other system. In this case, the source is cited as converted.

Following the precedent of the British Academy Corpus of Anglo-Saxon stone sculpture, the imperial units used are feet and inches (conventionally expressed to 2 decimal places to allow for $\frac{1}{4}''$ ).

  1. Source of data: CISP, reference, n/a or converted.
  2. Height in metres.
  3. actual/visible/inc/n/aind/uncertain (source not clear on this point)
  4. Width in metres.
  5. As for 17.
  6. Thickness in metres.
  7. As for 17.
  8. As for 15
  9. Height, feet part.
  10. Height, inches part.
  11. As for 17.
  12. Width, feet part.
  13. Width, inches part.
  14. As for 17.
  15. Thickness, feet part.
  16. Thickness, inches part.
  17. As for 17.


  1. Number of faces carved (excluding textual carving): 1 2 3 4 5 5+
  2. \dagOther carving notes: additional information on carving other than text (see also the INSCROSS and DECORATN tables as appropriate).
  3. Has the stone been seen by CISP? Logical (yes/no) field.


The LOST table

Details of the date and circumstances of the loss of lost stones.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
3 Date_last_present numeric -
4 Date_missing numeric -
\dag5 Notes memo -

  1. §Site code.
  2. §Stone number.
  3. Year last recorded present
  4. Year first recorded missing
  5. \dagNotes (authority, bibliographic reference, circumstances, places looked )

Fields 1 and 2 provide a link to the stone table.


The OTHERLOC table

If stone is no longer in its original/earliest location (the place described in `site') and is not in a museum, its current location is given as a grid reference. See the GRID_REF table for more details on the details of the grid references.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
3 Placename alphanumeric 35
\dag4 Notes memo -
5 System alphanumeric 7
6 East numeric -
7 North numeric -
8 Accuracy numeric -

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. The placename of the location.
  4. \dagAny notes about this location.
  5. The grid system (GB, Ireland, France).
  6. The easting as a six figure coordinate.
  7. The northing as a six figure coordinate.
  8. The true accuracy of the reference in metres.


The MUSEUM table

Information about any stone currently housed in a museum (but not a church).


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5  
§2 Stone numeric -
3 Mus alphanumeric 30
4 Acc_no alphanumeric 30

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. Name of museum.
  4. Museum's accession/catalogue number.


The FORM table

This is a hierarchical look-up table of allowed forms.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Mon_form alphanumeric 8
2 Gen_form alphanumeric 25
3 Med_form alphanumeric 25
4 Detail_form alphanumeric 25

  1. §The form code--a five character letter code in lowercase.
  2. The general categories of monument.
  3. The middle level of detail of category of monument.
  4. Detailed classification of monument form.

The following is a listing of the FORM table and is then followed by definitions of some of the terms.

Figure 10: Cramp shaft forms
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{Cramp1n.eps}

Figure 11: Cramp arm and terminal forms
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{Cramp2n.eps}

Figure 12: Cramp ring forms
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{Cramp3n.eps}

Mon_form Gen_form Med_form Detail_form
       
arcar architectural element arch arch
arcbs architectural element building stone building stone
arcli architectural element lintel lintel
arcot architectural element other other
arcpa architectural element panel panel
block block block block
colum column column column
eccal ecclesiastical furniture altar altar
eccfn ecclesiastical furniture font font
eccot ecclesiastical furniture other other
fcbas free-standing cross cross-base cross-base
fcsA free-standing cross cross-shaft Cramp 1a
fcsA free-standing cross cross-shaft Cramp 1b
fccA1a free-standing cross complete Cramp sh. A, head 1a
fccB6e2 free-standing cross complete Cramp sh. B, head 6e, r2
fccB8e5 free-standing cross complete Cramp sh. B, head 8e, r5
fch1a free-standing cross cross-head Cramp head 1a
       
fscuc free-standing cross otherwise unclassified otherwise unclassified
fccgw free-standing cross complete Glams. `wheel headed' type
fragy fragment fragment fragment
nboul natural boulder boulder
ncave natural cave cave
nrock natural rock outcrop rock outcrop
pillc pillar slab (flat) cross-marked
pillp pillar slab (flat) plain
pilsc pillar stone (squarish) cross-marked
pilsp pillar stone (squarish) plain
recmo recumbent monument recumbent monument recumbent monument
rpmeg re-used prehistoric megalith
rpout re-used prehistoric carved rock outcrop
rralt re-used Roman altar
rrarc re-used Roman architectural fragment
rrmil re-used Roman milestone
rroth re-used Roman other
sarco sarcophagus sarcophagus sarcophagus
slbbd worked slab body-slab body-slab
slbcr worked slab cross-slab cross-slab
slbns worked slab name-slab name-slab
slbot worked-slab other other
       

This list of terms is not complete as not all the possible forms of cross, cross shaft and base taken from Cramp's Cramp:1984 typology were entered as necessary. Figures 10-12 show Cramps classification. The codes are created as follows

  1. First three letters are fcc (free-standing cross, complete), fcs (free-standing cross, cross-shaft) or fch (free-standing cross, cross-head).
  2. Append shaft type (A or B) if appropriate.
  3. Append head-type from Cramp's table (see figure 11), 6e.
  4. Append number for ring-type (see figure 12), 5.

Additionally, there is a separate category for `Glamorganshire disk' or `wheel headed' crosses (fccgw).

The following provides additional definitions of some of the terms encountered in the above table.

reused
prehistoric

megalith
A menhir, dolmen or component of stone circle.
carved rock outcrop
A cup-marked surface or similar.
natural

rock outcrop
As carved rock outcrop above but no earlier carving.
boulder
Boulder--differs from an outcrop in not being attached to ground, but not tall and thin like a pillar, and is unshaped.
architectural element

building stone
undifferentiated wall block
lintel
of a door or window
panel
a flat slab designed to be set into the wall of a building, dedication slab, frieze
arch
(component)
other
burial monument
sarcophagus
hollow burial monument, with or without lid
recumbent
a thick body cover, not a flat slab but carved on vertical sides as well as top
pillar-stone
tall and thin, squarish or round cross-section, unworked or lightly worked
cross-marked
with cross
plain
no carving other than text
pillar-slab
tall and thin, flat face, rectangular cross-section, unworked or lightly worked
cross-marked
with cross
plain
no carving other than text
column
tall and thin, squarish or round cross-section, fully worked.
block
thick squarish lump of worked stone not otherwise differentiated of which the function is not clear, not a fragment since substantially intact, not building stone since carved on more than one surface.
worked slab
thin, rectangular or square and substantially worked
name-slab
these would usually be small -- less than $4'$ long, are more likely to be squarish than elongated, tend to be recumbent -- carved on one side only, and be carved with little ornament beyond a simple cross, the name predominates in the over all design (also known as a `pillow stone' but this term avoided (a) to avoid predetermining function and (b) as this term is strongly associated with Northumbria, to use it might imply influence)
body-slab
like the above but larger, usually elongated, usually $5'$ or $6'$ long and $2$-$3'$ wide; cross often more substantial and predominates. The difference between these and recumbent monuments is that body-slabs are thin and quasi-two dimensional, and are not decorated on the vertical faces.
cross-slab
upright, usually carved on at least two sides, usually having a cross dominating but often with geometric or figural carving
other
uprights without cross
fragment
indeterminate -- too small to identify


The ALTSNAME table

Alternative name for stone. A stone may have more than one.

For example, local traditional name for stone or any other name under which the stone has appeared in print; the Newton Stone, referred to in earliest accounts as `Pitmachie stone', and also the `Shevock stone' after nearby places. The Camp Ogham stone known locally as `Faisi's grave'.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
§3 Alt_sname alphanumeric 30

  1. §Site code
  2. §Stone number
  3. §The alternative name


The FOLKLORE table

Folklore associated with stone (disregard things pertaining to site only).


Field Field Name Type Length
$ 1 Site alphanumeric 5
$ 2 Stone numeric -
\dag3 Folklore memo -

  1. The site code.
  2. The stone number.
  3. \dagNotes concerning any traditional beliefs or practices pertaining to the stone.

Since only a small minority of stones will have associated folklore it is noted in a separate table.


The INSCROSS table

This table records the form of the inscribed crosses which may occur on a stone.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
§3 Cross numeric -
4 Shape alphanumeric 10
5 Substance alphanumeric 10
6 Arms alphanumeric 10
7 Terminals alphanumeric 10
8 Crossing alphanumeric 10
9 Frame alphanumeric 10
10 Ring alphanumeric 10
11 Base alphanumeric 10
12 Interior alphanumeric 10
13 Chi_rho_hook logical -
14 Other_embellishment logical -

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. §The cross number--a stone can have more than one cross.
  4. Shape: equal-armed, latin, arcs, tau, inc, ind, n/a.
  5. Substance: linear, outline, interlace, inc, ind, n/a.
  6. Arms: straight, tapering, expanded, inc, ind, n/a.
  7. Terminals: plain, curved, round, half-round, bifid, expanded, crosslet, other, mixed, inc, ind, n/a.
  8. Crossing: plain, square hollow, round hollow, curved, circular, square, lozenge, inc, ind, n/a.
  9. Ring: none, inner curved, outer curved, billet, angular, inc, ind, n/a.
  10. Base: Any of the terminal types, plus angular and tenon.
  11. Interior: plain, decorated, inc, ind, n/a.
  12. Frame: none, circular, angular, cruciform, inc, ind, n/a.
  13. Chi-Rho Hook: logical field, yes/no.
  14. Other structural embellishment: logical field, yes/no.

Some of the terms used above are now further defined.

Substance
interlace
constructed out of interlace, not an outline cross decorated with interlace.
Base
tenon
some kind of point
Chi-Rho Hook
proper chi-rho monograms are not crosses, this covers only crosses with a little `hook' on the upper arm.
Other embellishment
some other structural aspect of the cross, indentations in stem, scrolls or billets attached to stem -- anything on the surrounding background will be covered in the DECORATN table.

Some types of cross inevitably have default entries in other fields. For example, a linear cross must have n/a for interior.

Figure 13 shows the meanings of the various terms in diagramatic form.

Figure 13: Guide to inscribed cross forms
\includegraphics[width=\textwidth]{crosses.eps}


The DECORATN and DECOR_CD tables

As any one stone many have more than one type of decorative element, and any one decorative element can occur on more than one stone, we have a many-to-many relationship which has to be resolved by the use of the third linking table. The DECOR_CD table lists the possible decorative elements in a codified form, and the DECORATN table acts as a linking table between the STONE table and the DECOR_CD table. The DECOR_CD table is a look-up table similar to SITE_TYP.

The DECOR_CD table has the following structure.

Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Type alphanumeric 6
2 Description alphanumeric 35

The entries in this look-up table are listed below.

Type Description
animal animal
band band
beadg beading
boss boss
chirho chi-rho
figure figural
frame frame
geoinr geometric ribbon interlace
geoinz geometric zoomorphic interlace
geokey geometric key pattern
geooth geometric other
geospl geometric spiral
inc incomplete data
ind indeterminate
other other

The structure of the linking table DECORATN is as follows.

Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
§3 Decor_code alphanumeric 6

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. §The decoration code which is limited to one of the entries in the type field of the DECOR_CD table.

As can be seen, any one stone can have many entries in this table, as can any one decoration type. From this we can retrieve either all the elements on a stone, or all stones which employ that element.


The INSCRIP and related tables

Tables considered in this section are: INSCRIP, NAMES, SPEC_CHR, SPECIAL, and DATE. Related look-up tables not discussed in detail are DAMAGE, ORIENTAT, POSIT1, POSIT2, POSIT3, POSIT4, GENDER and LANGUAGE.


The INSCRIP table

This table is the primary table for recording details of the inscriptions other than the text itself which is recorded in the READING and TRANSLAT tables. A stone may have more than one inscription. The definition of a `separate inscription' is a subjective decision and must be based on common sense, if one obviously post-dates another, if they are in manifestly different `hands', different scripts, on different faces of the stone, relate to different fields of ornament

Field Field Name Type Length
       
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
§3 Inscription numeric -
4 Doubtful logical -
5 Incomplete logical -
6 Condition alphanumeric 12
\dag7 Legibility memo -
8 Secondary logical -
9 Orientation alphanumeric 4
10 No_lines numeric -
11 Position1 alphanumeric 5
12 Position2 alphanumeric 6
13 Position3 alphanumeric 20
14 Position4 alphanumeric 20
15 Position memo -
16 Incision alphanumeric 10
17 Technique memo -
18 Names numeric -
19 Language alphanumeric 5
\dag20 Ling_notes memo -
21 Carve_err alphanumeric 1
22 Script alphanumeric 5
23 Letter_height_m numeric -
\dag24 Paleo_notes memo -

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. §Number assigned by CISP to act as primary key in conjunction with the site and stone fields. Number to be assigned `within' a stone, not sequentially.
  4. Is there some reason to doubt whether or not the inscription should be included? (the marks are indistinct or fragmentary and might not be a genuine inscription; a description of a lost stone is vague; an inscription may be a fake, or may be modern). N.B. If a stone can be definitely excluded it should be, this is only if doubts remain. Logical yes/no field.
  5. Is there any reason to think that the inscription is incomplete? Logical yes/no field.
  6. What is the state of preservation? Allowed entries: good, some-damage, poor, n/a. Values stored in the DAMAGE table.
  7. \dagNotes on the legibility of the text.
  8. Is the inscription obviously secondary? This can either be the second, later inscription on a stone, or where a stone has been used for an inscription secondarily to its function, a graffito. Logical yes/no field.
  9. Orientation of text relative to vertical or long axis of stone (as stone originally stood, or, in the case of stone inverted and re-used, as it stood to bear this text). The allowed entries (stored in the ORIENTAT table) are:

    circ circular
    horz horizontal
    inc incomplete entry
    ind indeterminate
    mix mixed directions
    othr other
    verd vertical down
    vind vertical indeterminate
    vruu vertical up up
    vua vertical up along
    vuad vertical up along down
    vup vertical up
    vupd vertical up down

    Some entries are only applicable to Ogham inscriptions, vuad.
  10. Number of lines of text. A continuous line of text which turns corners is 1 line.
  11. Position 1, text relative to compass points: applies only to stones in landscape or churchyard settings which are not clearly secondary, pillar-stones, pillar-slabs, cross-slabs, free-standing crosses, recumbents. Allowed values stored in look-up table POSIT1. Allowed entries: N S E W NE NW SE SW many all n/a ind inc which are stored in look-up table POSIT1.
  12. Position 2, text relative to monument: Allowed values stored in look-up table POSIT2.
  13. Position 4, text relative to inscribed cross, if applicable: above cross; below cross; beside cross; inc; ind; mixed; n/a; on cross; within quadrants. Allowed values stored in table POSIT3.
  14. Position 4, text relative to carving other than inscribed crosses. Allowed values stored in look-up table POSIT4. These are: inc (incomplete data); ind (indeterminate); moulding (on a raised band or moulding); other (all other possibilities); panel (enclosed on all sides by a panel); quadrant (within quadrant(s) of a cross); separated (divided from other ornament by lines); undecorated (undecorated); undivided (in same field as other ornament).
  15. Incision -- type of cut, pocked, cut . The controlled vocabulary of this field is yet to be determined.
  16. Technique -- memo field for the technique of letter carving noting, in particular, differences of opinion.
  17. Number of individuals named (X son of Y is one person, not two).
  18. Language of text other than personal-, place-, or ethnic-names. Allowed terms are stored in the look-up LANGUAGE and include: AS (Anglo-Saxon), biblic (Biblical), briton (Brittonic), gaul (Gaulish), goidel (Goidelic), greek (Greek), inc (incomplete data), ind (indeterminate), latcel (Latinised Celtic), latin (Latin), mixed (Celtic and Latin), n/a (not applicable), name (inscription consists solely of a name), norse (Norse), r-celt (Romano-Celtic), unknwn (unknown).
  19. \dagLinguistic notes. Although, logically, these pertain to `readings' rather than `inscriptions', for practical reasons they are placed here. `Linguistic' is loosely interpreted as any notes to do with the meaning of the inscription. See also the memo field in the NAMES table, and the linguistic indexing system.
  20. Has the carver made an error in carving? (N.B. does not include textual `errors'): yes, no corrected ( self-corrected), inc.
  21. Kind of script used: rcaps (predominantly Roman capitals), rbook (predominantly Roman book-hand), ogham (no-stem, `non-scholastic'), oghms (Ogham with-stem, `scholastic'), runes, greek.
  22. Maximum letter-height at surface of incision in mm.
  23. \dagPalaeographic notes: any points of interest concerning form of script used. This field is loosely interpreted and can be used for notes regarding the reading of the inscription too.


The NAMES table

Information concerning names in inscriptions. There can be more than one name in an inscription, each receives one row of data. Compound names receive multiple rows too, Fred FILI Bert would have an entry for Fred and Bert. If authorities disagree on the reading of the name, a row can be input for each version of the name. Some mark-up as for the transcription of inscriptions is allowed, for example the use of square brackets ([ ]) or indications of missing text ([--).


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
§3 Inscription numeric -
§4 Name_id numeric -
5 Name alphanumeric 30
6 Language alphanumeric 10
7 Gender alphanumeric 1
8 Person_id logical -
\dag9 Name_notes memo -

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. §The inscription number.
  4. §A sequential number to act as part of the primary key. This number has no meaning beyond being an identifier.
  5. Text of name (as it appears on stone).
  6. Language of name--as for language in the INSCRIP table (also uses look-up table LANGUAGE).
  7. Gender of name: male, female, either, unknown, n/a, inc. Uses look-up table GENDER.
  8. Known: can the person be identified from historical sources? Logical yes/no field. This is reserved for compelling identifications only.
  9. \dagAny historical or linguistic notes on the name.


The DATE table

A published opinion on the date of an inscription. An inscription may have more than one of these.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
§3 Inscription numeric -
§4 Date_id numeric -
5 Authority alphanumeric 25
6 Date_from numeric -
7 Date_to numeric -
8 Date_notes memo -

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. §The inscription number.
  4. §A number assigned by CISP.
  5. Source of date (links to bib_ref field of the BIBLIOG table.
  6. Start of date range.
  7. End of date range.
  8. Notes concerning the date, usually a quotation from the authority concerned.

Many of the dates are `conventional' and are entered in the following manner:

Phrase Date from Date to
6th century 500 599
6th to 7th centuries 500 699
mid 6th to mid 7th centuries 550 650
late 6th to early 8th centuries 566 733

This conventional phrases will eventually be stored in a look-up table to enable easier extraction of inscriptions of certain dates. More precisely dated inscriptions, those that mention a specific person, will use those dates.


The SPEC_CHR and SPECIAL tables

The structure and use of these two tables is similar to those for carved decoration discussed in section 11.9 on page [*].

These tables enable the tagging of distinctive letter-forms and other palaeographical features. As an inscription may have more than one special character, and a special character can be found in more than one inscription, this is a many-to-many relationship which is resolved through the use of a linking table. In this case, table SPECIAL is the linking table and SPEC_CHR is the list of special characters. The latter can also been seen as a look-up table.

The structure of the SPECIAL table is:

Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
§3 Inscription numeric -
§4 Spec_char alphanumeric 5

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. §The inscription number.
  4. §The special character code which links to the SPEC_CHR table.

The structure of the SPEC_CHR table is:


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Spec_char alphanumeric 5
2 Character alphanumeric 40

  1. §The character code and primary key.
  2. Explanation or full name.

As data entry progresses it will become clear which characters need to be flagged. The following are examples only

These tables will eventually be expanded into a palaeographic indexing system.


The READING table

The only other table directly related to READING is the linking table READ_PUB which will be discussed in section 15.

This table contains published readings of text (or CISP reading if visited). An inscription may have many of these.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
§3 Inscription numeric -
§4 Reading numeric -
5 By_whom alphanumeric 20
6 When numeric -
7 Text memo -

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. §The inscription number.
  4. §The reading number assigned by CISP. All four fields together act as the primary key.
  5. Name of authority in full, Macalister, R. A. S.
  6. Date of this reading noted, because the authority may give different readings at different times and the latest is not always the best, if it is many years since the stone was actually seen and the reading has been `tidied'; stone may have deteriorated physically over time, . If not date for reading given, date of publication used. If multiple visits cited, date of last visit.
  7. Text of reading, transliteration of inscription--see below.


Transliteration of inscriptions

Obviously, established conventions should be followed wherever possible, however:

  1. Although there is substantial convergence among the various systems there are numerous difference in detail.
  2. Existing systems draw heavily on typographical features which are unavailable to us in the database (subscript dots) or are likely to prove too cumbersome to achieve (italics).
  3. Existing systems use new lines of printed text to reflect layout of inscribed text whereas we must input ours as one continuous string of data.
As a result, therefore, some innovation is unavoidable.

As we see it, the main drawbacks for our purposes with existing systems are that they distinguish between too many levels of uncertainty, and that they represent transliteration and expansion of abbreviations at a single stage. By separating out these last two functions we need display less information at each stage.

As there are unrestricted notes on completeness and legibility of the text in other fields, what is needed is a simple, comprehensive and accurate transcription of what is actually on the stone. Abbreviations are expanded (and lacuna supplied) in a separate table.

In what follows CISP innovations are marked with a #

All inscriptions

The prevailing convention is to transcribe as upper-case, regardless of whether or not the originals are capitals (runic inscriptions are conventionally transcribed as lower case).

A space in the transliteration represents a deliberate space in the inscription (except either side of a |).
|
End of line.
||
Text interrupted by a zone of ornament.
|||
# Text turns corner (not indicated as such in other systems).
[ ]
# Material contained in square brackets [] is defective or difficult to read (damaged or missing) and supplied by the reader.
{ }
# Material in curly brackets {} is clear on stone but is in some way unusual (an inverted letter) or, though legible, is difficult to transliterate because the value is unknown or disputed (one of the more unusual of the supplementary Ogham letters)
Defective letters which can be restored with certainty -- Cramp:1984 and Okasha:1993 put these in square brackets. RIB does not indicate them if certain claiming that illustration shows clearly. CISP will follow RIB and only mark if a letter is certain, or uncertain.
Doubtful letters -- Okasha:1993 and Cramp:1984 indicate the preferred restoration of these with italics within square brackets -- [AB], RIB uses a subscript dot. Neither of these options is available to us typographically. If we are not indicating the restoration of certain letters, then we use [AB].


# If there are two possible options then these can be indicated by [^], A[B^C]D represents ABD or ACD, V[W^XY]Z represents VWZ or VXYZ. The preferred option going first. This convention is intended primarily for use with Ogham inscriptions where there is often more than one option. In the interests of clarity only one alternative will be listed. If there is more doubt than this the character will be transcribed as `illegible'.

...
Illegible (number of letters known): follow Okasha/Corpus -- [..] where one dot represents one letter.
- -
Illegible (number of letters unknown): follow Okasha/Corpus -- [--]
Lacuna of unknown length at beginning or end of a line: RIB, Okasha and Corpus all use different conventions. # CISP will use --] and [-- which is consistent with above convention.
/
Conjoined or ligatured letters, Æ: follow Okasha/Corpus and use A/E
:
Punctuation of any sort.
+
Textual crosses in the body of the inscription (as punctuation, not decoration).
_
# Suspension marks. The tilde will follow each letter.
$<>$
# Character inserted by carver <AB>
{}
# Special characters, inverted characters, compendia (per, pro), otherwise anomolous characters (described in full in palaeographic notes field); {A} a special form of A (angle-bar A, an inverted A, ), {I}, {P}
{*}
Character legible but either not identifiable, or not transcribable, $\Omega$
# V for pointed character, U for rounded or square-bottomed character, regardless of whether consonantal or vocalic. RIB distinguishes in a similar way (though their material is different).

Ogham

All of the above conventions which are relevant apply. The following transliteration scheme is used:

BLVSN
HDTCQ
MGGwStR (Gw not Ng, St not Z -- N.B. these are extremely rare epigraphically)
AOUEI
X represents first forfid (supplementary character -- reasonably common)
# If a value for a rare forfid is generally agreed, then transcribe as a special form of the letter, angle-vowel A = {A}
# If a carved letter can be ascribed to a group but not specified more closely then use !, [B!] represents a B or a subsequent member the B-group, [T!] represents T, C or Q. .


The TRANSLAT table

This table records the expansion and interpretation of each reading.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
§3 Inscription numeric -
§4 Reading numeric -
§5 Expand_id numeric -
6 Expansion memo -
7 Translation memo -

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. §The inscription number.
  4. §The reading number.
  5. §The expansion number, assigned by CISP. All five fields together act as the primary key.
  6. Expanded text of inscription (expanding contractions, suspensions or other abbreviations) Both this and the following field can use elements of the transliteration scheme from above where appropriate, in particular [ ] to represent uncertain letters and -- or ... to represent missing letters or parts of the inscription.
  7. Translation/interpretation of above. Personal names are followed by (PN). If no translation given in the published source, use n/a.


The bibliography subsystem

This section contains the primary BIBLIOG table, and a number of linking tables: SITE_PUB, STON_PUB, INSC_PUB, READ_PUB, CORPORA and IMG_PUB. Logically, there could also be a TRAN_PUB to link table TRANSLAT to BIBLIOG but in practice the entries would be identical to READ_PUB.


The BIBLIOG table

Full bibliographic references in a modified `Chicago A' style will be stored. This table contains all bibliographic references. As a general principle only `useful items' will be cited in bibliographies:

Unpublished `official' documentation, OS record cards in NMRs are to be cited where information is easily available.

The structure of the table is as follows:


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Bib_ref alphanumeric 30
2 Reference alphanumeric 255
3 Date numeric -
4 Verified logical -
5 CISP_notes alphanumeric 40

  1. §A primary key (code). This will be constructed in a manner similar to author-date reference systems, name+year. Examples:
    --
    Lockyear 1996 -- Lockyear/1996
    --
    Reece 1987a, 1987b -- Reece/1987a and Reece/1987b , two separate records.
    --
    Lockyear and Wilcock 1985 -- Lockyear/Wilcock/1985
    --
    Lockyear, Ponting and Poenaru Bordea 1997 -- Lockyear/etal/1997.
  2. Full bibliographic reference (see examples below).
  3. Date of publication (this information, contained in the above field also, is duplicated here to permit searching by date, all post CIIC refs. to a particular stone).
  4. Has the reference been checked by CISP? Logical yes/no field.
  5. For project use only to help in the checking process, locating references, .


Sample bibliographic entries

There follow some example references in the modified form of `Chicago A' in the form that they will be entered into the ref field of table BIBLIOG.

Book: Thomas, C. (1993) _And Shall These Mute Stones Speak?_ Cardiff: University of Wales Press.

Article: Westwood, J. O. (1855) `Notices of several Early Inscribed Stones recently found in various parts of Wales', _Archaeologia Cambrensis_ 3rd series, 1, 4-10.

Article in volume: Craig, D. (1991) `Pre-Norman sculpture in Galloway: some territorial implications', _in_ R. D. Oram and G. P. Stell (eds) _Galloway Land and Lordship_, 45-62. Edinburgh: Scottish Society for Northern Studies.

Two authors: Dark, K. R. and S. P. Dark (1996) `New Archaeological and Palynological...

Three or more authors: Daire, M.-Y., A. Villard, S. Hinguant and E. Le Goff (1996) `Les steles de l'age du fer a decors geometriques...

Editors: Use (ed.) for singular, (eds) for plural.


The SITE_PUB table

This table provides the link between a site, and the bibliographic information. This linking table also contains extra information regarding the connection between the two, specific pages and value.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Bib_ref alphanumeric 30
3 Pages alphanumeric 40
4 Photo alphanumeric 10
5 Drawing alphanumeric 10
6 Map alphanumeric 10
7 value alphanumeric 25

  1. §The site code which links to the SITE table.
  2. §The bibliographic reference code which links to the BIBLIOG table.
  3. Relevant pages, figure and table references.
  4. Is there a photograph? Allowed entries yes, no, inc.
  5. Is there a drawing. Entries as for photo.
  6. Is there a map? Entries as for photo.
  7. Value of the reference--by definition all references cited are non-trivial. All references are described with one of the following terms which are stored in the look-up table PUB_VALS:
    cdisc
    concise discussion (the most common entry)
    illus
    illustration of use only
    inc
    incomplete data
    list
    listing (of stones, inscriptions, or other people's readings)
    minor
    minor reference
    other
    other reference
    read
    reading only (for READ_PUB table only)
    sdisc
    substantial discussion
    N.B. The value of a given reference is relative to this specific site. a single reference could be a substantial discussion of one site but contain only a minor reference to another site. The bibliography will be as comprehensive as possible and we would aim to give all substantial discussions and first mentions, but minor references and illustration only references will be included on an ad hoc basis.


The STON_PUB, INSC_PUB, and READ_PUB tables

These tables are identical to the SITE_PUB table discussed in the previous section with the exception of additional key fields providing the link to the primary tables, the STON_PUB table has a stone field which, in conjunction with the site field, provide the link to the STONE table; the INSC_PUB table has stone and inscription fields, and so on. The INSC_PUB table only has photo and drawing illustration fields; the READ_PUB table has no illustration fields.

The conventions for value and cisp_notes fields are as for the SITE_PUB table.


The CORPORA table

This is a special version of the linking table between the INSCRIP table and the BIBLIOG table allowing retrieval of inscriptions via standard corpus references CIIC, Nash-Williams, Okasha, Thomas Mute Stones, Kermode, and others as appropriate.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Bib_ref alphanumeric 30
2 Corp_no alphanumeric 10
§3 Site alphanumeric 5
§4 Stone numeric -
§5 Inscription numeric -

  1. §The bibliographic reference code.
  2. Designation in corpus.
  3. §The site code.
  4. §The stone number.
  5. §The inscription number.


The NAME_BIB table

This provides bibliographic references for names stored in the NAME table.


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Site alphanumeric 5
§2 Stone numeric -
§3 Inscription numeric -
§4 Name_id numeric -
§5 Bib_ref alphanumeric 30
6 Pages alphanumeric 30

  1. §The site code.
  2. §The stone number.
  3. §The inscription number.
  4. §The name number.
  5. §The bibliographic reference code.
  6. Relevant pages.


The image subsystem

The IMAGE table will contained scanned images of sites, stone and inscriptions.

The image table has the following structure:


Field Field Name Type Length
§1 Image_no numeric -
2 Type alphanumeric 10
3 Label alphanumeric 60
4 image graphic -

  1. §Sequential reference number.
  2. Type of image: b/w (photograph) colour (photograph), drawing, rubbing, squeeze, other.
  3. Label (`View of site from SW', `inscribed panel with letters chalked in', `cast in National Museums of Scotland').
  4. The image itself.

This table can be linked to other primary tables via linking tables as in other cases above.

The linguistic indexing system

This system replaces the `formula' fields/tables of the earlier version of the database.

The system consists of two tables. The first, the WORDINDX table ........ COMPLETE

Mike Gahan 2000-10-18