There are two templates, one for the data itself, the other for the metadata
Note that if the column name in the below tables appears in bold print it is either a SEAD-required field, and/or it is information that appears in more than one sheet, and the matching data must be entered exactly the same in every sheet so that the system will recognise it as linking information (primary/foreign key).
The metadata template
The metadata template file, makro_metadata_mall.xlsx, contains five sheets:
The Sites sheet
The information in this sheet corresponds to three SEAD tables, tbl_sites, tbl_site_locations, and tbl_locations
| Column name | Column description | corresponding SEAD table | corresponding SEAD column |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site name | The name of the site. This field is required | tbl_sites | site_name |
| Lämningsnummer | The unique number the Swedish National Heritage Board assigns to this site. These numbers take the form of L2017:1568, starting with the letter L, followed by a series of four numerals, a colon, and another series of numeral | tbl_sites | national_site_identifier |
| other national ID number | Any other national number assigned to a site (including the Swedish RAÄ numbers, which system has been replaced by the Lämningsnummer) | tbl_site_properties | site_property |
| type of other national ID number | a short description of what sort of national ID number appears in the “other national ID number”, for example RAÄ number, or a number assigned by another country for sites in their land. | tbl_property_type | property_type |
| Altitude | The altitude of the site in meters above sea level. | tbl_sites | altitude |
| Latitude | The latitude of the site, preferanly in decimal degrees. This field is required | tbl_sites | latitude_dd |
| Longitude | The longitude of the site, preferably in decimal degrees. This field is required | tbl_sites | longitude_dd |
| Koordinatsystem | What is what is their coordinate system of the latitude and longitude? (The SEAD default is decimal degrees, if the data is in another form it must be specified here.) | ||
| site_description | A detailed description of the site’s characteristics and significance. | tbl_sites | site_description |
| Settlement | the nearest settlement to the site (could be the name of a farm, or of a town), where location_type_id = 2 (sub-country administrative region) | tbl_locations | location |
| Landskap | tbl_locations | location | |
| Län | the province in which the site is located, where location_type_id = 2 (sub-country administrative region) | tbl_locations | location |
| Fylke | the Norwegian county in which the site is located, where location_type_id = 2 (sub-country administrative region) | tbl_locations | location |
| Socken | the parish in which the site is located, where location_type_id = 2 (sub-country administrative region) | tbl_locations | location |
| Kommun | the municipality in which the site is located, where location_type_id = 2 (sub-country administrative region) | tbl_locations | location |
| Land | the country in which the site is located where location_type_id = 1 (country) | tbl_locations | location |
the Features Sheet
The information in this sheet corresponds to two SEAD tables, tbl_features and tbl_feature_types, and will be connected to the samples themselves based on the feature_name
| Column name | Column description | corresponding SEAD table | corresponding SEAD column |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feature Name | The established reference name or number for the feature, such as ‘well 47’, ‘anl.3’, or ‘c107’. Note: A sample may derive from multiple features (e.g., ‘c107’ within ‘well 47’), but each feature should be recorded separately. | tbl_features | feature_name |
| Feature Type | The name of the feature type, providing a concise label for identification (e.g. trench, layer, hearth, post hole, etc). | tbl_feature_types | feature_type_name |
| Description | A detailed description of the feature, which may include field and lab notes or interpretative information helpful for analyzing the sample data. | tbl_features | feature_description |
the Sample Groups Sheet
| Column name | Column description | corresponding SEAD table | corresponding SEAD column |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site name | Site names must be entered in exactly the same form as they appear in the Sites sheet above. | (see above) | (see above) |
| Sample group name | A unique identifier name for the sample group. For ceramics, this should be the vessel number. | tbl_sample_groups | sample_group_name |
| sample group description | Detailed description of the sample group, providing context and additional information. | tbl_sample_groups | sample_group_description |
the Samples Sheet
| Column name | Column descriptin | corresponding SEAD table | corresponding SEAD column |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample group name | Sample group names must be entered in exactly the same form as they appear in the Sample Groups sheet above. | (see above) | (see above) |
| Sample name | Primary reference number or name of the sample. Additional references can be recorded as alternative names. | tbl_physical_samples | sample_name |
| Alternative names | Alternative reference name for the physical sample. | tbl_sample_alt_refs | alt_ref |
| Feature Name | the feature from which this sample was collected. It must be entered exactly as it was in the Features sheet above | (see above) | (see above) |
| Sample type | The name or label of the sample type. | tbl_sample_types | type_name |
| Sample method | Specifies the method of sample retrieval, such as ‘Russian auger core’ or ‘pitfall traps’. Distinct from sampling context, this specifies the method used rather than the investigation type. | tbl_methods | method_name |
| X (N) | The specific coordinate measurement value for the X-axis (or north) | tbl_sample_coordinates | measurement |
| Y (E) | The specific coordinate measurement value for the Y-axis (or east) | tbl_sample_coordinates | measurement |
| Z | The specific coordinate measurement value for the Z-axis | tbl_sample_coordinates | measurement |
| Horizon | The name/designation of the layer of soil from which the samples are taken, | tbl_horizons | horizon_name |
| Volume before float | The sample volume before float Note: use also dimension_id = 5 (Volume) | tbl_measured_value_dimensions | dimension_value |
| Volume after float | The sample volume after float Note: use also dimension_id = 5 (Volume) | tbl_measured_value_dimensions | dimension_value |
| Sample note | Contains miscellaneous notes related to samples that do not belong in other tables, such as ‘stored in a cellar until processing in 2020’. | tbl_sample_notes | note |
The Publications Sheet
| Column name | Column description | corresponding SEAD table | corresponding SEAD column | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Site name | This must be entered exactly as it was in the Sites sheet above. | (see above) | (see above) | |
| Authors | The authors of the publication that pertains to the site mentioned in the first column | tbl_biblio | AUTHORS | |
| Year | Year the referenced work was published | tbl_biblio | year | |
| Full citation information | Complete citation including all necessary details such as author, title, publication date, and publisher. | tbl_biblio | full_reference | |
The data template
The metadata template file, makro_data_mall.xlsx, contains four sheets:
the Soil Chemistry sheet
| Column name | Column description | corresponding SEAD table | corresponding SEAD column |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sample name | This must be entered exactly as it was in the Sample Groups sheet of the makro_metadata_mall.xlsx file above. | (see above) | (see above) |
| Pº weight (g) | weight of the sample, in grams Note: dimension_id = 1 = weight = sample weight, | tbl_measured_value_dimensions | dimension_value |
| Abs. Pº | |||
| Pº | method_id = 37 | ||
| Pº corr | |||
| Ptot weight (g) | |||
| Abs.Ptot | |||
| Ptot | |||
| Ptot corr | |||
| MS weight | |||
| MS | method_id = 33 | ||
| MS corr | |||
| MS550 weight (g) | |||
| MS550 | |||
| MS550 corr | |||
| C | |||
| C+S | |||
| C+S(LOI) | |||
| LOI% (550º) | method_id = 32??? | ||
| pH (H2O) | (method_id = 109) | ||
| pH (KCl 0,1M) | (method_id = 110) | ||
| µS (H2O) | |||
| Grain size >2mm (g) | |||
| Grain size >2mm (%) | (method_id = 117) | ||
| Grain size 0,6-2mm (g) | |||
| Grain size 0,6-2mm (%) | (method_id = 118) | ||
| Grain size <0,6 mm (g) | |||
| Grain size <0,6 mm (%) |
the Archaeobotany sheet (Taxonomic and Anatomical Identification; Faunal Remains)
This section records taxonomic and anatomical identifications of faunal remains, including genus-, species-, and subspecies‑level determinations, along with uncertainty qualifiers. It also documents observed modifications and anatomical elements, providing information relevant to species representation, taphonomy, and human or natural processes affecting the remains.
the notes for this sheet are still in progress, as of 2026-10-23. If this doesn't change soon, poke me.
| Column name | Column description | corresponding SEAD table | corresponding SEAD column |
|---|---|---|---|
| Taxon | Represents the finest level of taxonomic classification, typically at the species level. | ||
| Genus uncertainty | Indicator describing uncertainty or qualification associated with the genus‑level identification (e.g. cf., aff., ?, probable), as defined by laboratory or project conventions. | ||
| Genus | |||
| Species uncertainty | |||
| Species | tbl_taxa_tree_master | species | |
| Subspecies | |||
| Modifications | |||
| Element | |||
| Abundance count | |||
| Sample name | This must be entered exactly as it was in the Sample Groups sheet of the makro_metadata_mall.xlsx file above. | (see above) | (see above) |
| Feature name | This must be entered exactly as it was in the Features sheet of the makro_metadata_mall.xlsx file above. |
Other Macro (other macro remains by type Charcoal, Bone, Ceramics, and Other Materials)
This section documents the presence or quantity of selected macroscopic remains recovered from samples, including charcoal, bone, ceramics, and other visible materials. These data capture coarse archaeological and environmental evidence obtained through visual sorting and provide contextual information on site formation and material deposition.
| Column name | Column description | corresponding SEAD table | corresponding SEAD column |
|---|---|---|---|
| MAL nr | |||
| Träkol | |||
| Ben | |||
| Keramik | |||
| Annat |
the Charred Wood Analysis sheet
This is a new sheet that Petter suggest 2026-10-21 that we add. I have emailed to ask if there is a need to have a seperate sheet when all but “Age” is the same as the Archaeobotany sheet. Is there a reason not to just use that sheet for Charred wood taxa info as well?
| Column name | Column description | corresponding SEAD table | corresponding SEAD column |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genus | |||
| Species uncertainty | |||
| Species | |||
| Subspecies | |||
| Modifications | |||
| Element | |||
| Abundance count | |||
| Sample name | This must be entered exactly as it was in the Sample Groups sheet of the makro_metadata_mall.xlsx file above. | (see above) | (see above) |
| Context info | |||
| Age |