Create a new cultural heritage record

At this time it is not possible to import cultural heritage object records from an external museum, although this is a feature that we hope to add in the future. Therefore, all records in MorphoSource are created manually by our users. This guide will walk you through the process of creating a cultural heritage object record on the site.

New cultural heritage records can only be created during the media submission process by users who have been granted contributor status. After beginning submission and entering your initial information about the media you are uploading, you will find yourself on the Search/Create Object Screen. If there is a possibility that the object that your media represents has been already added to MorphoSource, first try to search using institution code, collection code, catalog number, or short title (the Occurrence ID field is only for Biological Specimens). If the record is not already in MorphoSource, click on “New Object” to create a new record.

Generally, a MorphoSource object record should correspond to a unique identifier or catalog number used by your organization for an object. Parts or components of an object that are scanned separately should all be associated with a single object record, with the part or component information included in the media record “part” field.

Detailed descriptions for cultural heritage object fields are below.

Search for the entity that manages the object. This can be a museum, private collection, academic department, or other organization.
1. If you find your organization, select it and click ‘Continue’.
2. If you are not able to find your organization, please email MorphoSource administrators to have them add the record to the database. Including this information about the organization will expedite record creation.
3. If your object is not managed by an organization, please contact MorphoSource admins for assistance.

You will now be on the ‘Details’ screen. There is only one required field for object records (Vouchered), but adding more information here will make it easier for users to find your data and will provide important contextual information for your object. You will be able to edit your record after it is created if you need to correct anything or add additional information.
1. Identifiers and External Links
  1. Institution code - The name (or acronym) used by the institution that has custody of the object, Ex: “EMC”
  2. Collection code - The name or acronym identifying the collection that includes the object, “WIL”
  3. Catalog number - The unique catalog number or other identifier for the object. Ex: ‘12345’
  4. Short description/Short title - a short descriptive name for the object
  5. The information added in the above fields will be concatenated to create the record title that will be displayed at the top of the object record and in search results. For example: YPM:ANT:131819 Spindle Whorl
  6. External identifier - an ID number for the object in another system or legacy identifier.
  7. Related Object URL - a link to the object’s record on the organization’s website or blog post about the object, for example.
  8. Bibliographic citation
2. Object Details
  1. Vouchered - required - Does the object exist and can be located? This is the one required field for the object record. Most cultural heritage objects have a value of ‘Yes’. An object that has been lost or destroyed might be an example of an object that has a ‘No’ value.
  2. Object description - long form description or notes about the object
  3. Object collector/creator - the creator of the object
  4. Object contributor - a person or entity who had a non-creator relationship to the object, such as a collector or technician.
  5. Publisher - the publisher of the object.
  6. Object type
    1. Getty type - what is the object? Choose from options under the AAT Objects Facet ex: baskets, snow globes, coffee cups, prize medals
    2. Custom type - Getty type is preferred, but custom types can be entered here. Best practice is to add the closest option from Getty in the Getty type field and then a specific value in the custom type field. For example, Getty does not have an option for “rag dolls”, so you might enter “rag dolls” as a custom type, but also add the available AAT term “recreational dolls” under the Getty type.
  7. Object material
    1. Getty material - what is the object made of? Choose from options under the AAT Materials Facet, ex: “wood veneer”, “imitation leather”, “Carrara marble”, “dog hair”
    2. Custom material Getty material is preferred, but custom materials can be entered here. Best practice is to add the closest option from Getty in the Gatty material field and then a specific value in the custom material field. For example, Getty does not have an option for “cat hair”, so you might enter “cat hair” as a custom type, but also add the available AAT term “hair (material)”
  8. Object attributes
    1. Getty attribute - what are the characteristics of the object? Choose from options under the AAT Physical Attributes Facet, ex: “pale blue”, “rust”, “microcracks”
    2. Custom attribute Getty attribute is preferred, but custom materials can be entered here. Best practice is to add the closest option from Getty in the Gatty material field and then a specific value in the custom material field. For example, Getty does not have an option for “hexagon”, so you might enter “hexagon” as a custom type, but also add the available AAT term “geometric shape”
  9. Object dimensions/measurements - size of the object, including units.
3. Object Dating
  1. Object collection/Creation date - if known, the calendar date that the object was created.
  2. Absolute age - the non-calendar date or date range when the object was created. Ex: “1940-1949”, “after 1511”, “late 4th Century BCE”,
  3. Getty period - the historical period, style, movement, or culture of the object. Choose from options under the AAT Styles and Periods Facet. Ex: “Bronze Age”, “Late Medieval”, “Egyptian Revival”
  4. Dating method - how was the object’s age determined? Ex: “Dendrochronology”, “Thermoluminescense”, “Radiocarbon dating”
4. Object Original Location
  1. Getty Location - the location of the object’s creation. Available options are from the Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names, Ex: “Yoruba (culture or style)”, “Trastevere (Rome, Roma, Lazio, Italy)”
  2. Locality - free text description of the object’s original location.
  3. Address
  4. City
  5. State or Province
  6. Country
  7. Geographic coordinates
    1. Latitude
    2. Longitude
5. Provenance
  1. Stratigraphic context - location of the object within soil layers
  2. Stratigraphic formation - The full name of the lithostratigraphic formation from which the cataloged item was collected. Ex: `Notch Peak Formation`, `House Limestone`, `Fillmore Formation`
  3. Excavation name - the name of the collection or excavation event.
  4. Excavation/Collection date -
  5. Excavation/Collection location
  6. Excavation/Collection details - free text notes detailing production, discovery, and/or ownership, describing the initial production/discovery context and listing any changes in ownership and custody of the resource since its creation that are significant for its authenticity, integrity, and interpretation.
  7. Current location - information to help users to locate the physical object.

Click “Continue” to enter information about the device used to image the object.