Semantic modeling of textual entities

The CRMtex model and the ontological description of ancient texts

Abstract

This paper presents CRMtex, an ontological model based on CIDOC CRM developed since 2015 to support the study of ancient documents. The model is intended to identify relevant textual entities and to model the scientific process related to the investigation of ancient texts and their features in order to foster integration with other Cultural Heritage research fields. CRMtex is able to identify and define in a clear and unambiguous way the main entities involved in the study and edition of ancient handwritten texts and to describe them by means of appropriate ontological instruments in a multidisciplinary perspective. The CRMtex model also provides tools for managing this kind of complexity by defining classes and properties for describing a handwritten text in all its aspects, from its creation (and/or destruction) in the past, down to its present conservation, investigation and study by scholars, including its transcription, translation, interpretation and publication. The full compatibility of CRMtex with the CIDOC CRM ontology and its extensions ensures persistent interoperability of data encoded by means of its entities with other semantic information produced in cultural heritage and Digital Humanities.