Old World Index

How to read an archaeological map point

Four checks before you treat a pin as a place, a heritage designation, or a route to visit.

A pin lets you open a catalog record. It does not, by itself, locate an entrance, trace the edge of a site, prove a date, or confirm that visitors can enter. Use the record and its cited authorities to answer those questions separately.

1. Ask what the coordinate represents

A catalog may use one point to represent a place, even when the evidence describes an area or several possible locations. Pleiades explains that its representative point is usually calculated from published locations. It may fall between those locations and need not coincide with the precise position of a known feature. Read Pleiades' explanation.

When precision matters, follow the record's source link to its site plan, gazetteer entry, or managing authority. Treat an unqualified pin as a reference for further reading, not as field navigation.

2. Check what place the record describes

A record may name a whole settlement, one monument within it, a landscape, or a place known from texts. Open its cited source and look for the same name, the scope of the place, and the evidence behind the location. A broad period label or site type helps you browse the catalog; it is not a substitute for a source-backed chronology or identification. If the source and record describe different scales of place, keep that uncertainty in your notes.

3. Check heritage status at the property level

UNESCO defines World Heritage status by inscription of a property on its World Heritage List. A nearby monument or a feature inside a larger landscape should not be described as independently inscribed without checking the official property record. Use the World Heritage List and, where available, the property's official maps and documents to understand the named property and its extent.

4. Check access with the current operator

An archaeological location or World Heritage inscription says nothing reliable about today's opening hours, permitted paths, closures, or access rules. Before traveling, consult the responsible heritage authority or site operator. Follow local restrictions, and do not enter closed areas or remove material.

A quick reading checklist

  1. What does this record name: a feature, a site, or a wider place?
  2. Does its source show a point, several candidate locations, or a mapped boundary?
  3. Which source supports the date and site type, and how precise is that source?
  4. If a heritage designation appears, what exact property is listed by the authority?
  5. Who currently manages access, and what do they say about visiting?

Sources and scope

This guide was checked against the sources below on 24 September 2026. It explains how to evaluate a map record; it does not review every Old World Index entry. Catalog provenance and editorial status vary by record. Read our editorial methodology before relying on a particular entry.

Ready to browse? Explore the map. If a source or location needs correction, contact the editors with the record link and supporting reference.