Key Definitions¶
This page provides working definitions of key concepts used throughout the Heritage Samples Registry. These definitions aim to support consistent understanding and documentation of heritage science samples and their relationship to the objects and materials from which they derive. They are presented as draft working definitions and may be refined as the Registry and associated standards evolve.
Draft working definitions
These definitions are intended as practical guidance for documentation and research use. They recognise that available evidence and metadata may vary in completeness, especially for legacy material, while still requiring a clear and well-supported contextual link between samples and the heritage objects they represent.
Heritage Object¶
Definition
A Heritage Object is a distinct, identifiable entity of cultural, historical, or scientific significance that exists as a whole or complete thing in its own right, even if it is physically damaged, altered, or only partially preserved.
A heritage object may be:
- Fully physical, such as a painting, manuscript, artefact, or structure
- A record of a previously existing physical item, preserved through documentation, replication, or data
- A virtual or conceptual representation used to describe or model a heritage entity
Regardless of its physical condition, the defining feature of a heritage object is that it is considered a self-contained entity, not merely a part of something larger. A given heritage object may previously have been, or might currently be, part of a larger heritage object or a member of a group of heritage objects, provided that it is still regarded and referenced as a distinct entity in its own right.
Heritage objects may also contain identifiable Parts or Sections. These are components that were originally designed, defined, created, or formed as distinct and intentional subdivisions of the object, for example panels in a polyptych, structural elements of a building, or folios of a manuscript.
Parts, sections, and fragments
Intentionally defined parts or sections are different from fragments. Parts and sections are created as planned components of an object, whereas fragments are pieces that have become detached through damage, deterioration, or other unplanned processes.
Heritage Fragment¶
Definition
A Heritage Fragment is a detached physical part that was originally part of a larger heritage object. A fragment is defined by its incomplete status and direct relationship to a more complete original from which it has become separated.
Fragments may:
- vary in size, form, or state of preservation
- result from natural deterioration, accidental damage, or human activity rather than from a planned sampling process
- still carry cultural, historical, or scientific value, especially when their connection to the original object can be established
Unlike a damaged object, which remains an object in its own right, or a defined part or section, which was intentionally created as a component of the object, a fragment is considered a broken or detached piece. It is understood explicitly in relation to the larger object or part it once formed part of.
Fragments and inferred original objects
In some fields, particularly archaeology, the complete original object may no longer survive. In such cases, the existence of a source object is inferred from the fragment itself. For example, a ceramic sherd implies the prior existence of a vessel even if its full form or maker is unknown. The fragment is still interpreted in relation to this inferred original object.
Heritage Sample¶
Definition
A Heritage Sample is a small, physical, and representative part of a larger heritage object, or a specific section of it, that has been separated or collected for the purpose of examination, analysis, or research within the field of heritage science.
A heritage sample may still physically exist, or it may have been consumed or destroyed during previous analysis. Regardless of its current state, a heritage sample must have defined provenance that links it to a source heritage object or to an inferred original object.
While heritage samples are often removed as part of a deliberate sampling event, material may also become detached through natural processes, accidents, or earlier interventions. The defining characteristic of a heritage sample is that it has been intentionally selected, retained, or used for examination or analysis.
To be classified as a heritage sample rather than a generic component or fragment, the material must have been collected, prepared, or kept specifically for research or analytical purposes. A sample may serve multiple research aims and contribute to answering a range of scientific or historical questions.
Incomplete or legacy documentation
The date, circumstances, and responsible individuals associated with the separation of a sample may not always be known precisely, especially for legacy material. A basic record acknowledging that a sampling or separation event took place is still expected, even when details are approximate or reconstructed.
Connection to a source object
A heritage sample should remain clearly and demonstrably linked to a specific heritage object, or to an inferred original object where the complete form no longer survives. This connection should be supported by available evidence such as labels, contextual records, archaeological context, or established institutional knowledge. Without such a contextual link, the material risks being treated as an unprovenanced fragment rather than a documented heritage sample.
Fragments becoming samples
A fragment is not automatically a heritage sample. A fragment becomes a sample when it is deliberately selected, retained, or prepared for the purpose of examination or analysis. This intentional act, whether part of a formal sampling process or a later research decision, gives the material the status of a sample within heritage science documentation.
Relationship between Objects, Fragments, and Samples¶
These three concepts describe related but distinct aspects of heritage materials:
- A Heritage Object is the complete entity that is the primary subject of study or preservation.
- A Heritage Fragment is a detached piece of an object that has become separated through damage, deterioration, or other unplanned processes.
- A Heritage Sample is material that has been intentionally selected or retained for examination or analysis, regardless of whether it still physically exists.
In practice, a sample may be taken from an intact object, from a defined part or section, or from an existing fragment. The essential requirement is that the material is intentionally used for examination and that a well-supported contextual relationship to a specific or inferred heritage object can be established. This contextual linkage enables meaningful interpretation of analytical results while recognising that the level of available metadata may vary across different domains and historical circumstances.