CIDOC CRM 7.1.3 PC

Working Version, January 2025

This version: http://purl.org/episa/archonto/cidoc_crm_pc/7.1.3

Latest version: http://purl.org/episa/archonto/cidoc_crm_pc

Previous version: https://purl.org/episa/archonto/n_ary/0.0.3

Editor: Inês Koch


Abstract

This specification describes the CIDOC CRM PC ontology, which aims to represent non-binary associations, i.e., those that connect more than two individuals. Here, the classes and properties that make up this ontology are presented.

This ontology replaces the N-ary Ontology used in the previous versions of ArchOnto.

Here, we took into account the information provided by CIDOC CRM in its version of this ontology. Considering that this ontology was created by a working group unrelated to the development of ArchOnto, only the definitions presented by CIDOC CRM on its web page and ontology are considered here.

Status of this document

This document is in progress. This may undergo changes considering the present ontology is constantly being developed by the CIDOC CRM SIG (Special Interest Group).

Table of Contents

CIDOC CRM PC

CIDOC CRM PC ontology provides a systematic way to represent non-binary associations, i.e., those that connect more than two individuals. Representing a person’s role in a given event is an example of this kind of association because it involves relating an event, a person, and a role.

Classes

PC0 Typed CRM Property
This class comprises all classes representing properties that have properties, thereby allowing representing n-ary relationships in RDF.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC0_Typed_CRM_Property
Superclass: -
Subclasses:
- PC14 Carried out by
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values: -


PC3 has note
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P3 has note’.
This property is a container for all informal descriptions about an object that have not been expressed in terms of CIDOC CRM constructs.
In particular, it captures the characterisation of the item itself, its internal structures, appearance, etc.
Like property P2 has type (is type of), this property is a consequence of the restricted focus of the CIDOC CRM. The aim is not to capture, in a structured form, everything that can be said about an item; indeed, the CIDOC CRM formalism is not regarded as sufficient to express everything that can be said. Good practice requires use of distinct note fields for different aspects of a characterisation. The P3.1 has type property of P3 has note allows differentiation of specific notes, e.g. “construction”, “decoration”, etc.
An item may have many notes, but a note is attached to a specific item.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC3_has_note
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values: -


PC14 carried out by
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P14 carried out by’.
This property describes the active participation of an instance of E39 Actor in an instance of E7 Activity.
It implies causal or legal responsibility. The P14.1 in the role of property of the property specifies the nature of an Actor’s participation.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC14_carried_out_by
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
- P14.1 in the role of
Example values:


PC16 used specific object
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P16 used specific object’.
This property describes the use of material or immaterial things in a way essential to the performance or the outcome of an instance of E7 Activity.
This property typically applies to tools, instruments, moulds, raw materials and items embedded in a product. It implies that the presence of the object in question was a necessary condition for the action. For example, the activity of writing this text required the use of a computer. An immaterial thing can be used if at least one of its carriers is present. For example, the software tools on a computer.
Another example is the use of a particular name by a particular group of people over some span to identify a thing, such as a settlement. In this case, the physical carriers of this name are at least the people understanding its use.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC16_used_specific_object
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC19 was intended use of
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P19 was intended use of’.
This property relates an instance of E7 Activity with instances of E71 Human-Made Thing, created specifically for use in the activity.
This is distinct from the intended use of an item in some general type of activity such as the book of common prayer which was intended for use in Church of England services (see P101 had as general use (was use of)).
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC19_was_intended_use_of
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC62 depicts
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P62 depicts’.
This property identifies something that is depicted by an instance of E24 Physical Human-Made Thing. Depicting is meant in the sense that an instance of E24 Physical Human-Made Thing intentionally shows, through its optical qualities or form, a representation of the entity depicted. Photographs are by default regarded as being intentional in this sense. Anything that is designed to change the properties of the depiction, such as an e-book reader, is specifically excluded. The property does not pertain to inscriptions or any other information encoding.
This property is a shortcut of the more fully developed path from E24 Physical Human-Made Thing through P65 shows visual item, E36 Visual Item, P138 represents to E1 CRM Entity. P62.1 mode of depiction allows the nature of the depiction to be refined.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC62_depicts
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC67 refers to
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P67 refers to’.
This property documents that an instance of E89 Propositional Object makes a statement about an instance of E1 CRM Entity. P67 refers to (is referred to by) has the P67.1 has type link to an instance of E55 Type. This is intended to allow a more detailed description of the type of reference. This differs from P129 is about (is subject of), which describes the primary subject or subjects of the instance of E89 Propositional Object.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC67_refers_to
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC69 has association with
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P69 has association with’.
This property generalises relationships like whole-part, sequence, prerequisite or inspired by between instances of E29 Design or Procedure. Any instance of E29 Design or Procedure may be associated with other designs or procedures. The property is considered to be symmetrical unless otherwise indicated by P69.1 has type. The property is not transitive.
This property is a directed relationship. The P69.1 has type property of P69 has association with allows the nature of the association to be specified reading from domain to range; examples of types of association between instances of E29 Design or Procedure include: has part, follows, requires, etc.
Instances of this property are considered to be symmetric, in case no directed sense is provided for them by the property P69.1 has type.
The property can typically be used to model the decomposition of the description of a complete workflow into a series of separate procedures.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC69_has_association_with
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC102 has title
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P102 has title’.
This property associates an instance of E35 Title that has been applied to an instance of E71 Human-Made Thing.
The P102.1 has type property of the P102 has title (is title of) property enables the relationship between the title and the thing to be further clarified, for example, if the title was a given title, a supplied title etc.
It allows any human-made material or immaterial thing to be given a title. It is possible to imagine a title being created without a specific object in mind.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC102_has_title
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC107 has current or former member
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P107 has current or former member’.
This property associates an instance of E74 Group with an instance of E39 Actor that is or has been a member thereof.
Instances of E74 Group and E21 Person may all be members of instances of E74 Group. An instance of E74 Group may be founded initially without any member.
This property is a shortcut of the more fully developed path from E74 Group, P144i gained member by, E85 Joining, P143 joined to E39 Actor.
The property P107.1 kind of member can be used to specify the type of membership or the role the member has in the group.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC107_has_current_or_former_member
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC130 shows features of
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P130 shows features of’.
This property generalises the notions of “copy of” and “similar to” into a directed relationship, where the domain expresses the derivative or influenced item and the range the source or influencing item, if such a direction can be established. The property can also be used to express similarity in cases that can be stated between two objects only, without historical knowledge about its reasons. The property expresses a symmetric relationship in case no direction of influence can be established either from evidence on the item itself or from historical knowledge. This holds in particular for siblings of a derivation process from a common source or non-causal cultural parallels, such as some weaving patterns.
The P130.1 kind of similarity property of the P130 shows features of (features are also found on) property enables the relationship between the domain and the range to be further clarified, in the sense from domain to range, if applicable. For example, it may be expressed if both items are product “of the same mould”, or if two texts “contain identical paragraphs”.
If the reason for similarity is a sort of derivation process, i.e. that the creator has used or had in mind the form of a particular thing during the creation or production, this process should be explicitly modelled. In these cases, P130 shows features of can be regarded as a shortcut of such a process. However, the current model does not contain any path specific enough to infer this property. Specializations of the CIDOC CRM may however be more explicit, for instance describing the use of moulds etc.
This property is not transitive. This property is irreflexive.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC130_shows_features_of
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC136 was based on
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P136 was based on’.
This property identifies one or more instances of E1 CRM Entity that were used as evidence to declare a new instance of E55 Type.
The examination of these items is often the only objective way to understand the precise characteristics of a new type. Such items should be deposited in a museum or similar institution for that reason. The taxonomic role renders the specific relationship of each item to the type, such as “holotype” or “original element”.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC136_was_based_on
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC137 exemplifies
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P137 exemplifies’.
This property associates an instance of E1 CRM Entity with an instance of E55 Type for which it has been declared to be a particularly characteristic example.
The P137.1 in the taxonomic role property of P137 exemplifies (is exemplified by) allows differentiation of taxonomic roles. The taxonomic role renders the specific relationship of this example to the type, such as “prototypical”, “archetypical”, “lectotype”, etc. The taxonomic role “lectotype” is not associated with the instance of E83 Type Creation itself but is selected in a later phase.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC137_exemplifies
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC138 represents
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P138 represents’.
This property establishes the relationship between an instance of E36 Visual Item and the instance of E1 CRM Entity that it visually represents.
Any entity may be represented visually. This property is part of the fully developed path from E24 Physical Human-Made Thing through P65 shows visual item (is shown by), E36 Visual Item, P138 represents (has representation) to E1 CRM Entity, which is shortcut by P62 depicts (is depicted by). P138.1 mode of representation allows the nature of the representation to be refined.
This property is also used for the relationship between an original and a digitisation of the original by the use of techniques such as digital photography, flatbed or infrared scanning. Digitisation is here seen as a process with a mechanical, causal component rendering the spatial distribution of structural and optical properties of the original and does not necessarily include any visual similarity identifiable by human observation.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC138_represents
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC139 has alternative form
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P139 has alternative form’.
This property associates an instance of E41 Appellation with another instance of E41 Appellation that constitutes a derivative or variant of the former and that may also be used for identifying items identified by the former, in suitable contexts, independent from the particular item to be identified. This property should not be confused with additional variants of names used characteristically for a single, particular item, such as individual nicknames. It is a directed relationship, where the range expresses the derivative or variant and the domain the source of derivation or original form of variation, if such a direction can be established. Otherwise, the relationship is symmetric.
Multiple names assigned to an object, which do not apply to all things identified with the specific instance of E41 Appellation, should be modelled as repeated values of P1 is identified by (identifies) of this object.
P139.1 has type allows the type of derivation to be refined, for instance “transliteration from Latin 1 to ASCII”.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC139_has_alternative_form
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC144 joined with
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P144 joined with’.
This property identifies the instance of E74 Group of which an instance of E39 Actor becomes a member through an instance of E85 Joining.
Although a joining activity normally concerns only one instance of E74 Group, it is possible to imagine circumstances under which becoming member of one Group implies becoming member of another Group as well.
Joining events allow for describing people becoming members of a group with a more detailed path from E74 Group through, P144i gained member by, E85 Joining, P143 joined, E39 Actor, compared to the shortcut offered by P107 has current or former member (is current or former member of).
The property P144.1 kind of member can be used to specify the type of membership or the role the member has in the group.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC144_joined_with
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties:
- P01 has domain
- P02 has range
Example values:


PC189 approximates
This class is the representation of the n-ary relationship form of the property ‘P189 approximates’.
This property associates an instance of E53 Place with another instance of E53 Place, which is defined in the same reference space, and which is used to approximate the former. The property does not necessarily state the quality or accuracy of this approximation, but rather indicates the use of the first instance of place to approximate the second.
In common documentation practice, find or encounter spots e.g. in archaeology, botany or zoology are often related to the closest village, river or other named place without detailing the relation, e.g. if it is located within the village or in a certain distance of the specified place. In this case the stated “phenomenal” place found in the documentation can be seen as an approximation of the actual encounter spot without more specific knowledge.
In more recent documentation often point coordinate information is provided that originates from GPS measurements or georeferencing from a map. This point coordinate information does not state the actual place of the encounter spot but tries to approximate it with a “declarative” place. The accuracy depends on the methodology used when creating the coordinates. It may be dependent on technical limitations like GPS accuracy but also on the method where the GPS location is taken in relation to the measured feature. If the methodology is known a maximum deviation from the measured point can be calculated and the encounter spot or feature may be related to the resulting circle using an instance of P171 at some place within.
This property is not transitive. This property is reflexive.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/PC189_approximates
Superclass:
- PC0 CRM Property
Subclasses: -
Related properties: P01 has domain; P02 has range, P14.1 in the role of.
Example values:
- A atividade criação do Apocalipse do Lorvão tem Egeas como autor material.

Properties

P01 has domain
This property associates an instance of a property class with an instance of the property’s domain class. For example, it links an instance of ‘PC14 carried out by’ (the property class of ‘P14 carried out by’) with an instance of ‘E7 Activity’ (the domain of ‘P14 carried out by’).
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P01_has_domain
Domain: PC0 Typed CRM Property
Range: E1 CRM Entity
Inverse: P01 is domain of


P01 is domain of
This property associates an instance of a property’s domain class with an instance of the property’s property class. For example, it links an instance of ‘E7 Activity’ (the domain of ‘P14 carried out by’) with an instance of ‘PC14 carried out by’ (the property class of ‘P14 carried out by’).
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P01i_is_domain_of
Domain: E1 CRM Entity
Range: PC0 Typed CRM Property
Inverse: P01 has domain


P02 has range
This property associates an instance of a property class with an instance of the property’s range class. For example, it links an instance of ‘PC14 carried out by’ (the property class of ‘P14 carried out by’) with an instance of ‘E39 Actor’ (the range of ‘P14 carried out by’).
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P02_has_range
Domain: PC0 Typed CRM Property
Range: E1 CRM Entity
Inverse: P02 is range of


P02 is range of
This property associates an instance of a property’s range class with an instance of the property’s property class. For example, it links an instance of ‘E39 Actor’ (the range of ‘P14 carried out by’) with an instance of ‘PC14 carried out by’ (the property class of ‘P14 carried out by’).
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P02i_is_range_of
Domain: E1 CRM Entity
Range: PC0 Typed CRM Property
Inverse: P02 has range


P04 represents
This property associates a property class with the property it represents.
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P04_represents
Domain:
Range: rdf:Property


P3.1 has type
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P3.1_has_type
Domain: PC3 has note
Range: E55 Type


P14.1 in the role of
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P14.1_in_the_role_of
Domain: PC14.1 carried out by
Range: E55 Type


P16.1 mode of use
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P16.1_mode_of_use
Domain: PC16 used specific object
Range: E55 Type


P19.1 mode of use
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P19.1_mode_of_use
Domain: PC19 was intended use of
Range: E55 Type


P62.1 mode of depiction
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P62.1_mode_of_depiction
Domain: PC62 depicts
Range: E55 Type


P67.1 has type
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P67.1_has_type
Domain: PC67 refers to
Range: E55 Type


P69.1 has type
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P69.1_has_type
Domain: PC69 has association with
Range: E55 Type


P102.1 has type
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P102.1_has_type
Domain: PC102 has title
Range: E55 Type


P107.1 kind of member
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P107.1_kind_of_member
Domain: PC107 has current or former member
Range: E55 Type


P130.1 kind of similarity
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P130.1_kind_of_similarity
Domain: PC130 shows features of
Range: E55 Type


P136.1 in the taxonomic role
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P136.1_in_the_taxonomic_role
Domain: PC136 was based on
Range: E55 Type


P137.1 in the taxonomic role
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P137.1_in_the_taxonomic_role
Domain: PC137 exemplifies
Range: E55 Type


P138.1 mode of representation
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P138.1_mode_of_representation
Domain: PC138 represents
Range: E55 Type


P139.1 has type
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P139.1_has_type
Domain: PC139 has alternative form
Range: E55 Type


P144.1 kind of member
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P144.1_kind_of_member
Domain: PC144 joined with
Range: E55 Type


P189.1 has type
URI: http://www.cidoc-crm.org/cidoc-crm/P189.1_has_type
Domain: PC189 approximates
Range: E55 Type