Recommended citation: Laura Righi: Review of Christoph Sander et al.: GRACEFUL17. A Knowledge Graph for Papal Documents of Apostolic Provisions. In: Zeitschrift für digitale Geisteswissenschaften. 12.03.2026. https://doi.org/10.17175/2025_013_r1
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I.1. Data Publication: Metadata Quality
The metadata of the dataset describes the dataset in as much detail as possible. They contain a human- and machine-readable license information. Standard data is referenced in a meaningful way (e.g. GND, Wikidata, GeoNames):
Applicable★★★★
I.2. Data Publication: Machine Readibility of the Data Publication
Data and metadata follow a common, suitable data standard (in that specific discipline) and are available in a common file format. The data standards used (and, if applicable, their versions) are named:
Applicable★★★★
I.3. Data Publication: Information on Contributors and Authors of the Data Publication
The authors of the dataset (and any other contributors) are clearly named and can be persistently identified (e.g. via the GND number, ORCiD), their functions are described in the metadata (e.g. via CRediT, MARC Relator or TaDiRAH):
Applicable★★★★
I.4. Data Publication: Accessibility of the Data Publication
The data set and its subsets are clearly and meaningfully named and well structured. The data can be accessed directly via the PID without specialized tools, free of charge and barrier-free. Any access or usage restrictions are clearly justified (e.g. for copyright or privacy reasons):
Applicable★★★★
I.5. Data Publication: Long-term Availability of the Data Publication
The data is available in a file format that is suitable for long-term storage or in several file formats in order to increase the probability of long-term availability. A strategy for keeping the data and metadata permanently up-to-date, available and usable is in place and documented in the data set; the long-term archiving of the data and metadata is ensured. Changes are made transparent and traceable through versioning:
Rather applicableComment: The dataset is made available in appropriate, non-proprietary formats and published as open data, which supports reuse and interoperability. However, a long-term preservation strategy is not explicitly articulated and documented.
★★★☆
I.6. Data Publication: Context of the Data Publication
The data publication is an innovative tool that can be used by others and combined with other data sets. The data set contains information on completeness, context of origin, collection and processing methods and the quality of the data. Data gaps, uncertainties or difficulties are clearly stated:
Rather applicableComment: It would be useful to provide more detailed information regarding the completeness of the dataset and the potential presence of gaps or errors, starting with a more thorough documentation of the data collection process.
★★★☆
II.1. Data Paper: Context of Creation
The data paper presents the context in which the data publication was created and the basic objective in a detailed and comprehensible manner:
Applicable★★★★
II.2. Data Paper: Information on Methodology
For all published data, the data paper provides comprehensive information on the methodology of data collection and, where applicable, data cleansing and preparation. The choice of data schemes and file formats used is clearly explained:
Rather applicable★★★☆
II.3. Data Paper: Gaps and Weaknesses
For all published data, the data paper provides comprehensive information on the methodology of data collection and, where applicable, data cleansing and preparation. The choice of data schemes and file formats used is clearly explained:
Rather applicable★★★☆
II.4. Data Paper: Reference to Publications
The use of the data by the authors is described in a comprehensible manner and published research contributions published using the data are referred to. Reference is also made to other data publications that are similar or can be usefully combined with the data described:
Applicable★★★★
II.5. Data Paper: Potential Usage
Comprehensible potential usage scenarios are drafted and described:
Applicable★★★★
III. Overall Evaluation of the Data Publication / Data Paper
Accept (high quality)
Concluding Comment: The dataset has been developed in accordance with FAIR principles and open data standards, and it is grounded in a methodologically robust framework. In terms of data modelling and publication, the project demonstrates a solid and carefully documented approach. The only aspect that appears insufficiently elaborated concerns the long-term preservation and availability strategy, as well as the future development and potential integration or reuse of the dataset within external projects (see comment I.5 and I.6).
The paper is clearly structured and effectively contextualises the historical data and source material. Considerable attention is devoted to documenting compliance with established standards and best practices in Digital Humanities data publication. However, the contribution would benefit from a more explicit engagement with related projects and ongoing research in the field, thereby positioning GRACEFUL17 more clearly within the current state of the art. This relative lack of dialogue with comparable datasets and research initiatives limits discussion of potential overlaps, complementarities, or shared methodological challenges, beyond the technical interoperability that is successfully ensured through the informed use of specific tools, platforms, and semantic web methodologies.
From the perspective of fostering stronger scholarly dialogue, a more detailed account of the criteria guiding corpus selection, workflow design, and especially the processes of textual normalisation and encoding would be highly valuable. Such clarification would enable readers to better understand key methodological decisions, identify potential limitations, and assess the types of error that may be embedded in the dataset. This level of methodological transparency would not only facilitate potential extensions, corrections, and integrations of the dataset in future research contexts, but would also benefit future users of GRACEFUL17. In this respect, the final paragraph of the paper constitutes one of its strongest elements, as it convincingly articulates potential research applications.