Document
We record the artifact's published provenance, excavation context, institutional holding, prior publication history, and stated dating methodology.
OUR REVIEW METHOD
A score should show its working.
Obsidian Archives analyses are structured editorial assessments. We separate desk research from field observation and explain the evidence behind every conclusion.
Observe or verify
Field visits are labelled when completed. Otherwise, our desk review uses official excavation reports and clearly identified scholarly documentation.
Score with context
Six criteria shape the final rating. The number is a concise editorial summary — not a scientific measurement or a promise that everyone will agree.
SIX QUESTIONS
The complete rubric.
Each category is considered on a ten-point editorial scale, then balanced against the type of contribution the finding is trying to make.
Provenance clarity
We inspect excavation records, institutional accession numbers, publication chains, and whether the object can be traced to a documented context.
Contextual integrity
We consider stratigraphic documentation, associated finds, soil samples, and whether the reporting respects the original depositional environment.
Scholarly accessibility
We track whether primary data, field drawings, and raw images are available to readers who wish to verify claims independently.
Narrative restraint
We document sensational headlines, treasure framing, speculative reconstructions, and whether the account resists commercial pressure.
Indigenous voice
We note descendant community consultation, collaborative authorship, and the distance between outsider interpretation and insider knowledge.
Original contribution
We look for meaningful new interpretations, careful restatements of old evidence, and a coherent reason to return to the publication.
Corrections, independence, and scope
Obsidian Archives does not accept payment for coverage or rankings. If a museum visit, research access, or material relationship affects coverage, it is disclosed on that page. We correct factual errors when they are identified and distinguish editorial opinion from verifiable artifact details.
This concept site does not currently publish real-time excavation reports. The sample titles and scores demonstrate the intended editorial structure.
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