This document discusses creating and using linked data vocabularies for heritage data. It recommends using existing vocabularies when applicable, and creating new vocabularies as SKOS RDF if needed. It provides examples of existing vocabularies for domains like art, architecture, periods, and geographies. The document also outlines best practices for structuring vocabularies, such as assigning IRIs as identifiers and relating terms.

1. Sigurdsristningen, Ramsundsberget, Sö 101
CC BY Bengt A. Lundberg, Riksantikvarieämbetet
Linked Data Vocabularies
for
Heritage Data
Marcus Smith, Swedish National Heritage Board

2. Linked Data Vocabularies
• There are lots of existing vocabularies
published as linked data – chances
are your domain is already covered
• If there are existing vocabularies you
can apply or map to, you should!
• If not, you can create your own, or
publish your existing vocabulary as
linked data
En pojke i golfbyxor, pullover och skärmmössa äter glass vid en
cykel
CC BY-NC-ND Gunnar Lundh, Nordiska Museet

3. From Strings to Things
Step 1: Switch from a data dictionary of
permitted terms to a list of ids
• This decouples your ids from your
values – good data hygiene
• You can then associate multiple
lookup values and attributes with
each concept
En kvinna demonstrerar Frösöstenen, J RS1928;66
Bengt Wellert, Östersund, Stiftelsen Jamtli

4. From Strings to Things
For example:
• Terms in multiple languages
• Preferred and alternate terms
• Scope notes, and other attributes
• Relations to other terms, e.g.
broader/narrower, identities
Now you have a structured vocabulary!
Igelkottar
CC BY-NC Hilding Mickelsson, Hälsinglands museum

5. From Strings to Things
Step 2: Make those ids resolvable IRIs
• Public, permanent, dereferenceable,
machine-readable ids
• This allows lets you and others refer
to them as linked data
• Often used as e.g. dcterms:type,
dcterms:subject, rdf:type, etc
• A simple list of RDFS terms with
basic Dublin Core attributes is a good
start
Princessan Margrethe av Danmark deltar I arkeologiska utgrävningar
vid San Giovenale I Italien. Här ses hon framför en kammargrav.
CC BY-NC-ND Nordiska Museet

6. From Strings to Things
SKOS (Simple Knowledge Organisation System)
• For a well-structured linked data
vocabulary, use SKOS!
• Relate terms to one another within a
vocabulary
• Relate to similar/equivalent terms in
other vocabularies
• SKOS is also a great introduction to
LOD
Ungräven grunnar på nya hyss I skogen
CC BY-NC Hilding Mickelsson, Hälsinglands museum

7. Tools for
Linked Data Vocabularies
• Ariadne – e.g. iDAI vocabulary tool
https://portal.ariadne-infrastructure.eu/services
https://archwort.dainst.org/de/vocab/
• SKOSify – https://seco.cs.aalto.fi/tools/skosify/
• SpreadSKOS – http://siskos.herokuapp.com/
• STELLAR/STAR/SENESCHAL/STE
LETO –
https://hypermedia.research.southwales.ac.uk/kos/
• ASKOSI – http://www.askosi.org/
Sigrid Olsson, Karlstads styvaste pistolskytt
CC BY-NC-SA Karlstads Tidningen, Värmlands museum

8. Linked Data Vocabularies for
Heritage Data
Use existing vocabularies/authorities!
• LoC Subject Headings –
http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects
• Getty AAT – http://vocab.getty.edu/
Art and Architecture Thesaurus –
styles, periods, object types etc
• PeriodO – https://perio.do/
International gazetteer of periods and
chronologies
Inmatning av rundata
CC BY Runverket, Riksantikvarieämbetet

9. Linked Data Vocabularies for
Heritage Data
• Heritage Data –
https://www.heritagedata.org/
Monuments types, chronologies,
artefact types, techniques etc from
UK heritage agencies
• Creative Commons and
RightsStatements.org –
http://creativecommons.org/ ,
http://rightsstatements.org/
Katt
CC BY-NC Blekinge Museum

10. Linked Data Vocabularies for
Heritage Data
• VIAF – http://www.viaf.org/
For authors, bibliographic data
• Finto – https://finto.fi/
Finnish vocabulary and ontology
service
• Wikidata – http://www.wikidata.org/
Great as a node for links; see
https://pro.europeana.eu/page/get-your-vocabularies-
in-wikidata
En ring av guld från Slöingeboplatsen
CC BY Klas Höglund, Statens historiska
museum

11. In summary
• If there are existing LOD vocabularies
for your domain, use them!
• If there aren’t, make and publish your
own!
• Use IRIs as identifiers in your
vocabularies
• Structure and publish them as SKOS
RDF
Vg 169 Svedjorna, Södra Ving
PD Riksantikvarieämbetet

12. Thanks!
marcus.smith@raa.se
@carwash
Tjänsteman vid dator
CC BY-SA Järnvägsmuseet