Cultural Artifact
Describe one physical cultural artifact and its attributed significance, history, care and governed documentary context.
Bundle → Layer → Finding → Questions Filled
6 bundles · 12 layers · 12 findings · 36 questions
Object identity and physical description Identify the bounded object and record observations.
Object identity and recognition
Separate the object from its labels, catalogue records, replicas and type. Unknown accession and uncertain matches remain explicit.
Object identity and recognition
Separate the object from its labels, catalogue records, replicas and type. Unknown accession and uncertain matches remain explicit.
- Which master identifier identifies this object and which earlier identifiers remain aliases? identity
- What supports its inclusion as a cultural artifact rather than a site, natural specimen or digital resource? classification
- Which observations distinguish this object from a copy or another similar object? evidence
Physical description and component boundary
Record measured or inferred material properties separately from assembly membership. Measurement context and incomplete observations remain visible.
Physical description and component boundary
Record measured or inferred material properties separately from assembly membership. Measurement context and incomplete observations remain visible.
- Which dimensions and material observations apply to which parts, with what units and uncertainty? measurement
- Which components belong to this object, and which have independent identities or disputed membership? composition
- What descriptions, techniques, inscriptions and depicted subjects are recorded in their original language? definition
Interpretation and attribution Preserve contextual and contested knowledge.
Significance and interpretation
Cultural value is an attributed assessment, potentially plural and contested. A legal designation and an interpretation are different assertions.
Significance and interpretation
Cultural value is an attributed assessment, potentially plural and contested. A legal designation and an interpretation are different assertions.
- Who contributed each significance assessment and under what mandate or community relationship? authority
- Which evidence and criteria support each interpretation and which perspectives remain disputed or absent? quality
- When was an interpretation recorded, and to which historical period or context does it refer? temporal
Maker, origin and dating hypotheses
Keep competing hypotheses and their basis without replacing uncertainty with a single asserted maker or exact date.
Maker, origin and dating hypotheses
Keep competing hypotheses and their basis without replacing uncertainty with a single asserted maker or exact date.
- What evidence supports each maker, production place or dating hypothesis? provenance
- Which attribution is preferred for this catalogue view and who approved that presentation? decision
- How are anonymous makers, collective production, uncertain dates and later alterations represented? exception
History and holding Distinguish provenance, title, custody and movement.
Provenance episodes and title assertions
Object history and record derivation are distinct. Document gaps, disputed transfers and title claims without certifying lawful acquisition.
Provenance episodes and title assertions
Object history and record derivation are distinct. Document gaps, disputed transfers and title claims without certifying lawful acquisition.
- Which parties claim or held title during each interval, and what evidence qualifies the claim? ownership
- Which making, discovery, transfer and loss episodes are documented, inferred or missing? provenance
- Which provenance inconsistencies require review before a proposed acquisition or transfer is considered? validation
Custody, location and loan references
Custody can be unknown, shared or contested. Loan agreements and actual receipt or return events are separate evidence.
Custody, location and loan references
Custody can be unknown, shared or contested. Loan agreements and actual receipt or return events are separate evidence.
- What location or location class is last evidenced, when was it observed, and who may see it? spatial
- Which custodian assertions and loan agreements apply without implying ownership? relationship
- Which receipt, movement or return evidence changes the documented custody state? event
Condition and care Separate observed state, policy and object lifecycle.
Condition and observation limits
Condition is a dated observation with extent and competence, not an enduring guarantee of fitness.
Condition and observation limits
Condition is a dated observation with extent and competence, not an enduring guarantee of fitness.
- What condition was observed for each assessed portion and what could not be examined? state
- What triggered this condition check and which qualified role performed it? process
- How does the observation compare with prior records and which differences require review? quality
Care constraints and lifecycle continuity
Record authorized care and lifecycle evidence without performing treatment. Deaccession, loss, destruction and record retirement are different events.
Care constraints and lifecycle continuity
Record authorized care and lifecycle evidence without performing treatment. Deaccession, loss, destruction and record retirement are different events.
- Which approved care, access or sampling constraints apply and where is the specialist policy held? constraint
- Which events indicate alteration, loss, recovery, destruction or removal from a collection? lifecycle
- What evidence records approval and outcome of a proposed or completed intervention? requirement
Protection and disclosure Qualify legal claims and audience-specific access.
Designation, restrictions and return claims
Record jurisdiction-qualified protection and claim references. Absence of a listing or a local flag never grants permission to trade, export or dispose.
Designation, restrictions and return claims
Record jurisdiction-qualified protection and claim references. Absence of a listing or a local flag never grants permission to trade, export or dispose.
- Which authority, instrument and jurisdiction support each designation or restriction? authority
- What permit or decision evidence must a qualified reviewer assess for a proposed action? requirement
- What is the recorded status of a restitution or return request and which external decision supports it? decision
Community protocols and controlled disclosure
The adopting profile defines consent, confidentiality and access decisions per audience. Record control does not imply unrestricted authority over community knowledge.
Community protocols and controlled disclosure
The adopting profile defines consent, confidentiality and access decisions per audience. Record control does not imply unrestricted authority over community knowledge.
- Which audiences may access each description, image and location detail under the applicable policy? access
- What community consent, cultural protocols or personal-data restrictions constrain recording and disclosure? privacy
- How is a disputed disclosure request escalated while a restricted projection remains available? exception
Representations and record continuity Govern surrogates, revisions and proposed exchange.
Digital surrogates and distinct rights
The depicted object, resource file and catalogue record remain separately identified. Rights statements are qualified references, not automatic reuse permission.
Digital surrogates and distinct rights
The depicted object, resource file and catalogue record remain separately identified. Rights statements are qualified references, not automatic reuse permission.
- Which object, view and capture event does each digital surrogate represent? identity
- Which rights statements apply separately to the object, image and metadata record? ownership
- What distinguishes an original capture from an edited image or generated reconstruction? evidence
Record revision and exchange continuity
Keep object identity stable through catalogue corrections and exchange. Mappings are proposed and must report loss of uncertainty, restrictions or history.
Record revision and exchange continuity
Keep object identity stable through catalogue corrections and exchange. Mappings are proposed and must report loss of uncertainty, restrictions or history.
- Which pinned exchange profile maps these fields and what information is omitted or transformed? interoperability
- Which revision supplied the displayed assertion and how are event, observation and recording times distinguished? temporal
- Which retention rule governs obsolete evidence and what minimal reference survives lawful erasure? retention
Classifiers Filled
- Family
- World Models
- Category
- Physical world and living systems
- Entry kind
- entity
- Navigation path
- NAV.PHY.OBJ.HER
- Domain
- PHY.OBJ.HER
- Industry
- Cross-industry
- Tags
- culturalartifactphy.obj.her
- Also called
- M9
What it is Filled
One bounded, movable physical object made or materially modified through human activity, with asserted or under-review cultural significance. A functional set can have an explicit aggregate identity, while independently tracked members retain their own identifiers. This is a proposed documentation model, not a museum collection, intangible tradition, legal title or digital image. Accession, formal designation and a known owner are not prerequisites.
In scope
- Physical identity, component references, recognition observations, materials, measurements and uncertain classifications
- Attributed significance, maker and origin hypotheses, provenance episodes, separate title and custody assertions
- Condition, care records, object lifecycle, protection and claim references, restricted disclosure and digital surrogates
Out of scope
- Immovable sites and monuments, intangible practices, born-digital works and unmodified natural specimens as root subjects; detached objects and culturally significant manufactured objects can be included
- Collection-wide administration, actor and place masters, rights instruments, legal proceedings, conservation procedures and transport operations
- Authentication certification, valuation engines, title adjudication, sale, export, seizure, restitution execution or physical treatment; dangerous or controlled artifacts receive policy-level description only
Why it exists Filled
Describe one physical cultural artifact and its attributed significance, history, care and governed documentary context.
Distinguishing features Derived, awaiting review
- Unlike WM-OBJ-001 Physical Item Instance: Candidate alignment of physical instance identity, not automatic inherited conformance. Cultural interpretation and qualified history extend the research surface; no second physical master is created.
- Unlike Physical collection, set and component: A documented set may be one root only under an explicit identity policy. Membership is not physical containment; detachments and separately identified parts remain linked objects. Do not silently merge accession numbers.
- Unlike Ownership, custody and rights records: Holding an object or maintaining its catalogue does not establish title, authority to transfer it, or rights to publish its images. Each assertion retains parties, basis, period and uncertainty.
- Unlike Digital resource and information work: A photograph, scan, catalogue revision or depicted work has an identity and rights separate from the object. The research schema term artifact below denotes a documentary evidence artifact.
- Unlike Legacy M9 and unreviewed card supplement: Legacy custody cardinality, loan semantics, exclusive heritage-rights claims and conformance assertions are not inherited. Movable scope is a local profile choice, not the complete scope of CIDOC CRM or treaty cultural property.
Note: Derived from boundary notes against neighbouring models.
What robots and AI may and may not do Derived, awaiting review
May
- Record identity proposal: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Associate evidence with a candidate object without automatic deduplication.
- Add qualified research assertion: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Append attributed significance, attribution or history assertions.
- Record holding evidence: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Link a custody or loan event without making a physical transfer.
- Record condition assessment: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Attach a specialist observation and refer concerns for review.
- Register protection or claim review: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Record a qualified reviewer decision with its external instrument.
- Prepare governed catalogue projection: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Create a local audience-specific projection and exchange loss report.
Note: Derived from functions, policies, CRUD and access rules; prohibitions were not authored for agents as such.
Moral aspects Derived, awaiting review
- Hash immutable evidence bytes where available and retain algorithm, source and revision; a digest does not establish authenticity, lawful title or consent.
- Preserve evidence lawfully, reconcile privacy and community restrictions with retention duties, and document permitted redaction.
- The adopting Dimension retention authority executes record erasure only after schedule, legal hold and community/privacy review.
- Document representation, consent and cultural protocols without assuming one voice.
- Community agreements, privacy rules, sensitive materials and security may restrict even catalogue metadata; explicit legal disclosure requires qualified review and minimization.
- Jurisdiction-specific designation, export, privacy, copyright, claims and special material rules need qualified review; no legal-compliance claim is made.
- Spectrum is a UK collections standard with wider use; treaty membership, domestic implementation and museum ethics applicability must be reviewed for each adopter.
Note: Sentences mentioning harm, privacy, consent or similar, collected from the specification.
Owners Filled
Steward
Adopting Dimension identifies the accountable record steward by role and authority, separately from object title and custody.
Roles
- Record steward
- Maintain object identity, revision control and profile bindings; no implied title.
- Researcher
- Record qualified assertions and contrary evidence within access scope.
- Collections registrar
- Link custody, loans and collection events with evidence; refer unresolved discrepancies.
- Conservation specialist
- Assess condition and approve domain care records within competence.
- Community liaison
- Document representation, consent and cultural protocols without assuming one voice.
- Legal and protection reviewer
- Assess jurisdiction-specific instruments and return claims; maintain external decision references.
- Access and retention officer
- Approve scoped projections and lawful disposition; audit sensitive access.
Links to other meta-models Filled
aligned
- WM-OBJ-001 - Candidate physical instance alignment from legacy M2; same object master, no untested inheritance.
- CIDOC CRM 7.1.3 - Conceptual physical-object, assertion, title and custody alignment; mappings and instance conformance unimplemented.
- LIDO 1.1 - Candidate metadata exchange binding; preserve restrictions and report lossy projection.
- Spectrum 5.1 - Collection procedure references without embedding a collections-management runtime.
- PROV-O 2013 Recommendation - Evidence derivation and attribution links distinct from object ownership history.
references
- WM-MAT-001 - Chemical substance references where applicable; legacy M1 is not a universal materials classifier.
- WM-MAT-002 - Optional engineered-material grade reference where the artifact description requires it.
- WM-PER-001 - Person identity for makers, researchers or claimants remains externally mastered.
- WM-ORG-001 - Custodian or authority organization references do not imply ownership or competence.
- Adopting profile place authority - Resolve production, find and observation locations to a pinned place authority. Legacy P1 now denotes Terrain / Landform and cannot be silently reused as generic place.
neighbor
- WM-OBJ-001 Physical Item Instance - Candidate alignment of physical instance identity, not automatic inherited conformance. Cultural interpretation and qualified history extend the research surface; no second physical master is created.
- Physical collection, set and component - A documented set may be one root only under an explicit identity policy. Membership is not physical containment; detachments and separately identified parts remain linked objects. Do not silently merge accession numbers.
- Ownership, custody and rights records - Holding an object or maintaining its catalogue does not establish title, authority to transfer it, or rights to publish its images. Each assertion retains parties, basis, period and uncertainty.
- Digital resource and information work - A photograph, scan, catalogue revision or depicted work has an identity and rights separate from the object. The research schema term artifact below denotes a documentary evidence artifact.
- Legacy M9 and unreviewed card supplement - Legacy custody cardinality, loan semantics, exclusive heritage-rights claims and conformance assertions are not inherited. Movable scope is a local profile choice, not the complete scope of CIDOC CRM or treaty cultural property.
What else AI and robots need to interact with it Incomplete
Identity and identifiers required Filled
- Authoritative master-system identifier with namespace
- Governed global identifier or IRI
- Dimension-assigned UUID or ULID
Direct properties required Missing, in the backlog
Not described yet. This gap is in the card backlog.
Recognition required Missing, in the backlog
Not described yet. This gap is in the card backlog.
Capabilities and actions required Filled
- Record identity proposal: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Associate evidence with a candidate object without automatic deduplication.
- Add qualified research assertion: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Append attributed significance, attribution or history assertions.
- Record holding evidence: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Link a custody or loan event without making a physical transfer.
- Record condition assessment: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Attach a specialist observation and refer concerns for review.
- Register protection or claim review: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Record a qualified reviewer decision with its external instrument.
- Prepare governed catalogue projection: Proposed local operation; not implemented. Create a local audience-specific projection and exchange loss report.
Hazards and failure modes required Missing, in the backlog
Not described yet. This gap is in the card backlog.
Standards and interfaces required Derived, awaiting review
- PROV-O: The PROV Ontology
Context of use required Filled
- Movable human-made scope is a declared local boundary, narrower than treaty cultural property or all CRM physical things.
- Spectrum is a UK collections standard with wider use; treaty membership, domestic implementation and museum ethics applicability must be reviewed for each adopter.
Sources Filled
- Classes and Properties Declarations of CIDOC CRM - ICOM CIDOC CRM Special Interest Group
- LIDO - Lightweight Information Describing Objects - ICOM CIDOC LIDO Working Group
- Object ID - International Council of Museums
- Introduction to Spectrum - Collections Trust
- Condition checking and technical assessment - the Spectrum standard - Collections Trust
- Convention on the Means of Prohibiting and Preventing the Illicit Import, Export and Transfer of Ownership of Cultural Property - UNESCO
- PROV-O: The PROV Ontology - World Wide Web Consortium
- ICOM Code of Ethics for Museums - International Council of Museums
Open questions
- Complete direct source checks and review pinned text, licensing, jurisdictional applicability and institution-specific implementation, including the 2026 ethics code.
- Develop nested instance profiles and adversarial fixtures for disputed custody, functional sets, uncertain historical dates, community-restricted projections, lawful erasure and lossy exchange; pin current material and place bindings.
- Restore independent external review before canonical or publishable-draft promotion.
- Independent external review is absent; the separate local Codex audit cannot replace it.
- Direct HTTP source checks are not attempted under the owner-reported sandbox restriction; browser text retrieval is not measured endpoint status or a completeness claim.
- Detailed nested instance schemas, validation fixtures, retention schedules and language/vocabulary profiles remain adoption work.
- Jurisdiction-specific designation, export, privacy, copyright, claims and special material rules need qualified review; no legal-compliance claim is made.
- Immovable heritage, born-digital works, intangible traditions and unmodified specimens require sibling profiles. Detached objects and human-containing artifacts require specialized cultural and legal review.
- Detailed treatment, emergency response, valuation, insurance and transport execution are delegated; no procedural safety recipes are provided.
- Local material and place bindings need reconciliation; legacy M1 and P1 labels cannot be mechanically mapped to current registry meanings.
Machine files
Provenance
world-models research · reviewable-draft
Built from: models/wm-obj-016-cultural-artifact/spec.yaml