Definition of "attestation"

[dlschwartz]

We have several different meanings for <event type="attestation"> in Syriaca.org data.

In persons, an attestation does two things

• indicate the subject of the person record is commemorated in a work (using event/desc/title with a work URI). See person/13. 1932/1933 instances.
• indicate that the subject of the person record is attested as the author of a work (using event/desc/title with a work URI). See person/2803. 1/1933 instances.

In places, an attestation does two things:

• link an event indicating the presence of a religious group with the corresponding <state type='confession">. See place/78.
• link an event indicating the attestation of a name variant with the corresponding <placeName>. See place/78.

There's a lot going on here with the result that the <event> is a bit of a free for all. The two uses in places could also apply to persons. We have no instances of that yet though. All of this simply means that it is difficult to constrain things further in the schema. Also, this should all be documented.

[wlpotter]

Note here for our records on persons that in #1192 we decided to remove attestation events. When places is resolved, this issue should be fine to close