This template is flexible enough to be used to provide a box containing an information summary for many historical and cultural locations, even though it was originally created for use with articles about ancient sites, excavations and constructions.
Usage
To use this template, simply copy the text from the box below, paste it at the top of your article, then complete any of the parameters which apply to the archaeological site which you are describing. Only a value for the "name" parameter is required; all others are optional.
Use as few or many of the following fields as you wish. Fields for which no information is provided will not be displayed in your infobox. The more fields for which you add information, the longer will be your infobox. Infoboxes which include data for a large number of fields can interfere with other elements of your article.
Many of the titles displayed are broadly inclusive, and the descriptions below are suggestions. If you cannot find a description which exactly matches the information you wish to present, find the closest match. Again, only the "name" parameter is required.
General information regarding the site or structure
name = Name of the archaeological site or feature as spelled in English references (required)
native_name = Name in the local language or spelling (this displays below title if present). In some cases it is useful to mention two native names. For example, some ancient Greek cities in Turkey also have a name in Turkish beside their Greek and Latin (English) name. Both names can be mentioned in this entry if they are separated with the <br> tag to insert a line break. For example, in the case of MiletusΜίλητος<br>Milet is used.
alternate_name = Other name(s) by which the site is known. Most often this entry is used best for alternative names of the site in English. The transliteration of a foreign-language name into English often produces multiple English names with slightly different spellings. Displays as Alternative name for Engvar reasons.
map_caption = A caption for the map, if this entry is removed a default caption "Shown in (map name)" will be given in case the map_type entry is filled
map_size = Width of map displayed. Leave empty or remove to get the default size of 220 pixels. In some cases this default does not work well for maps which are very wide, such as the map of Turkey. In that case the map size can be increased to 270. This does not increase the standard width of the whole infobox as long as an image is used in the infobox.
location = Area where the site is located, generally in the form of: town, province/state, possibly the administrative region and ending with the country. For example: Montalto di Castro, Province of Viterbo, Lazio, Italy for the article of Vulci.
region = Use to specify the geographical region of the site, either ancient, modern or both. For example, the Yucatán Peninsula, Attica or Mesopotamia. Do not mention administrative divisions such as provinces here, those should be put in the location entry.
part_of = Name of main site, if part of larger site or complex
length = Length of site in meters/kilometers, converted to imperial units with Template:Convert, for example {{convert|50|m|abbr=on}}
width = Width of site in meters/kilometers, converted to imperial units with Template:Convert, for example {{convert|1|km|abbr=on}}
area = Area covered by the site or structure in hectare (or in square kilometers if exceeding 1 km2), converted to imperial acres (or square miles) with Template:Convert, for example {{convert|5|ha|abbr=on}}
volume =
diameter = Diameter of a circular structure such as a barrow.
circumference =
height = Greatest height of preserved remains in meters, converted to imperial units with Template:Convert
History of the site or structure
builder = If known, name of person or people who built the site
material = Significant construction materials (stone, plaster, concrete, brick, wood)
built = Year of construction: c. (circa) or period if year unknown (the label for this field appears as "Founded")
abandoned = Year went out of use or destroyed: c. (circa) or period if year unknown
epochs = Period(s) during which the site was in use (e.g., Bronze Age II–Iron Age I)
cultures = Cultures which evidence has shown to have occupied the site. This can be an archaeological culture but also a culture in the sense of a people. Mention the archaeological culture in the form of a noun minus the word "culture" and mention a people in the form of an adjective. For example, a wikilink to [[Vinča culture]] becomes [[Vinča culture|Vinča]]; [[Celts]] becomes [[Celts|Celtic]]. See Vinča-Belo Brdo for an example.
dependency_of = If a satellite dependency (e.g., outlying village, quarry, etc.), specify the controlling nearby city or site
occupants = Significant historical figures occupying or associated with the site
event = Significant historical event(s) associated with the site
Other information and notes about the site or structure
excavations = Years for major excavation work
archaeologists = Superintending archeologist(s)
condition = Present condition of the remains (no extant remains, restored, ruined, etc.)
ownership = Is the site on private or public property
management = Pertinent info about the management of the site (private manager, admission fee, etc.)
public_access = Is the site open to public visits (Yes, No, Limited)
website = Use only if the site has an official web presence. Use {{URL}} or simply [http://www.very-long-url-here.com Link description] if the link is too long
notes = any additional necessary explanatory notes
Designations
Up to 2 designations are allowed. Normally designations are listed in decreasing scope (i.e. an international designation first, followed by a national one, etc.). Each designation is represented by a colored bar, controlled by the {{Designation}} template. Though the Designation template is used in the background here, it can be used as a stand-alone template to create tables, lists, and even other infoboxes. For more information see Template:Designation/doc.
To display a designation, there are several templates. While no parameters are necessary, it is recommended that at least the designation date and reference number (if applicable) are known before adding the designation. For each designation (1-2) the following parameters may be used:
Example format –| designation1 = World Heritage Site
designation1_offname – The official name of the historic site, as listed in the register. If the official name is the same as the common name at the top of the infobox, this field is not necessary. If more than one name is included on the register, include all of them.
Example format –| designation1_offname = Obélisque antique
designation1_type – Some registers have certain types of designations (i.e. "Natural" and "Cultural", "Grade I" and "Grade II", etc.). If the type is closely associated with the designation, input that type here.
Example format –| designation1_type = Cultural
designation1_criteria – Some registers require sites to meet specific criteria (normally one or more items in a list) for inclusion. If the criteria is known, input it here.
Example format –| designation1_criteria = ii, iv
designation1_date – Date when the site received this designation. Normally this parameter needs a reference (make sure it is properly formatted).
Example format –| designation1_date = March 4, 1972<ref>{{cite web|...}}</ref>
delisted1_date – If a site has been removed from a designation's list, this is the date of delisting. Setting a value to this parameter causes the designation's color bar to turn grey and adds the word "Former" to the beginning. This parameter also needs a reference.
Example format –| delisted1_date = March 5, 1972<ref>{{cite web|...}}</ref>
designation1_partof – Some designations are part of larger designations (i.e. an individually designated building inside a designated district or an individually designated district in a designated city). For example, Ellis Island is a part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument; both are listed as New York City Landmarks. If the larger designation is listed on the same register, include the name of the larger designation here. If a Wikipedia article exists about that designation, link to it.
Example format –| designation1_partof = [[Statue of Liberty National Monument]]
designation1_number – Most registers include unique reference numbers for each site so that they can be searched for more easily than by name (There may be two Jones Houses on the register, but they have unique reference numbers). Include this reference number here.
Example format –| designation1_number = 70010045
For designation 2, these same parameters are used, only "designation1" in all the parameters is replaced by "designation2", "designation3", etc.
Custom designation parameters
Besides all of these hard-coded parameters there is also the possibility of adding up to 3 custom parameters for each designation. These can be used for information specific to that single register (such as "Region" for World Heritage Sites or "Multiple Property Submission" to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places). If there is anything extra needed to fully identify the designated site, include it here.
designation1_free1name – The name (bolded part) of the 1st custom parameter you would like to identify.
Example format –| designation1_free1name = Region
designation1_free1value – The value to which you want to set the custom parameter.
Example format –| designation1_free1value = [[World Heritage Sites in Europe|Europe and North America]]
Up to three custom parameters can be named and defined for each parameter (| designation1_free2name =, | designation1_free2value =, etc.).
|other_designation= may be used for designations not covered by the above.
Identifiers
These parameters are for adding numbers or labels that uniquely identify the site in a database (e.g. national registers, widely used catalogues and gazetteer). Where available they will automatically generate a link to the site's entry in that database. The following databases are currently supported:
mapframe – Specify yes or no to show or hide the map, overriding the default. Default: no
mapframe-caption – Caption for the map. Default: blank (or if |mapframe-geomask= is set, "Location in geomask's label")
mapframe-custom – Use a custom map instead of the automatic mapframe. Specify either a {{maplink}} template, or another template that generates a mapframe map, or an image name. If used, the subsequent mapframe parameters will be ignored. Default: not specified
mapframe-id or id or qid – Id (Q-number) of Wikidata item to use. Default:item for current page
mapframe-coordinates or mapframe-coord or coordinates or coord – Coordinates to use, instead of any on Wikidata. Use the {{Coord}} template, e.g. |coord={{Coord|12.34|N|56.78|E}}. Default:coordinates from Wikidata
mapframe-wikidata – Set to yes to show shape/line features from the wikidata item, if any, when |coord= is set. Default:not specified
Customise which features are displayed:
mapframe-shape – Turn off display of shape feature by setting to none. Use an inverse shape (geomask) instead of a regular shape by setting to inverse. Default:not specified
mapframe-point – Turn off display of point feature by setting to none. Force point marker to be displayed by setting to on. Default:not specified
mapframe-line – Turn off display of line feature by setting to none. Default:not specified
mapframe-geomask – Wikidata item to use as a geomask (everything outside the boundary is shaded darker). Can either be a specific Wikidata item (Q-number), or a property that specifies the item to use (e.g. P17 for country (P17), P131 for located in the administrative territorial entity (P131)). Default:not specified
mapframe-switcher – set to auto or geomasks or zooms to enable Template:Switcher-style switching between multiple mapframes. Default:not specified
geomasks – switch between the geomasks specified as a comma-separated list of Wikidata items (Q-numbers) in the mapframe-geomask parameter
zooms – switch between "zoomed in"/"zoomed midway"/"zoomed out", where "zoomed in" is the default zoom (with a minimum of 3), "zoomed out" is 1, and "zoomed midway" is the average
Other optional parameters:
mapframe-frame-width or mapframe-width – Frame width. Default: 270
mapframe-frame-height or mapframe-height – Frame height. Default: 200
mapframe-shape-fill – Color used to fill shape features. Default: #606060
mapframe-shape-fill-opacity – Opacity level of shape fill, a number between 0 and 1. Default: 0.5
mapframe-stroke-color or mapframe-stroke-colour – Color of line features, and outlines of shape features. Default: #ff0000
mapframe-stroke-width – Width of line features, and outlines of shape features; default is "5". Default: 5
mapframe-marker – Marker symbol to use for coordinates; see mw:Help:Extension:Kartographer/Icons for options. Default:not specified (i.e. blank)
Can also be set to blank to override any default marker symbol
mapframe-marker-color or mapframe-marker-colour – Background color for the marker. Default: #5E74F3
mapframe-geomask-stroke-color or mapframe-geomask-stroke-colour – Color of outline of geomask shape. Default: #555555
mapframe-geomask-stroke-width – Width of outline of geomask shape. Default: 2
mapframe-geomask-fill – Color used to fill outside geomask features. Default: #606060
mapframe-geomask-fill-opacity – Opacity level of fill outside geomask features, a number between 0 and 1. Default: 0.5
mapframe-zoom – Set the zoom level, from "1" (map of earth) to "18" (maximum zoom in), to be used if the zoom level cannot be determined automatically from object length or area. Default: 10
mapframe-length_km or mapframe-length_mi or mapframe-area_km2 or mapframe-area_mi2 – Determine zoom level by passing in object's length (in kilometres or miles) or area (in square kilometres or square miles). Default:not specified
mapframe-frame-coordinates or mapframe-frame-coord – Alternate latitude and longitude coordinates for initial placement of map, using {{coord}}. Default:derived from item coordinates
Per Wikipedia:Manual of Style/Icons#Appropriate use, do not add language icon templates to native names of ancient sites, because it may break the template. Do use them after URLs which lead to a website in a foreign language.
{{Infobox_ancient_site| name = Ras Ibn Hani
| native_name = رأس ابن هاني
| native_name_lang = ar
| image = RasIbnHani,tomb1.jpg
| imagealttext = A corridor built of ashlars leads to a ruined archway
| caption = A tomb at Ras Ibn Hani
| map_type = Syria
| map_alt = Located on the Mediterranean coast of Syria
| coordinates ={{coord|35|35|6|N|35|44|45.6|E|display=inline}}| location =[[Latakia]], [[Syria]]| region =| type = Settlement
| part_of =| length =| width =| area ={{convert|2|ha|abbr=on}}| height =| builder =| material =| built =| abandoned =| epochs = Late Bronze–Early Byzantine
| cultures = Canaanite, Hellenistic, Roman
| dependency_of =[[Ugarit]]| occupants =| event =| excavations =| archaeologists =| condition =| ownership = Mixed public and private
| public_access = Partial
| website =| notes = Now is the site of [[Cote d'Azur, Syria|Cote d'Azur]]}}
Microformat
The HTML markup produced by this template includes an hCard microformat, which makes the place-name and location parsable by computers, either acting automatically to catalogue articles across Wikipedia, or via a browser tool operated by a person, to (for example) add the subject to an address book. Within the hCard is a Geo microformat, which additionally makes the coordinates (latitude & longitude) parsable, so that they can be, say, looked up on a map, or downloaded to a GPS unit. For more information about the use of microformats on Wikipedia, please see the microformat project.
.svg/50px-Test_Template_Info-Icon_-_Version_(2).svg.png){kind=icon}
image (P18) (see uses)