The illusion of a pin
A map marker has a powerful visual grammar. It seems to say, “Here is where it happened.” But a modern coordinate for Cividale identifies a contemporary place, while a sixteenth-century deposition may identify only where an inquiry was held.
Three spatial types
Distinguish recorded location, modern town centroid and inferred historical site. A pin must carry its type, date context, source and uncertainty. Approximate pins are legitimate orientation aids when labeled; fabricated exact sites are not.
Application
The atlas on this site uses a small set of sourced modern coordinates. It never claims to locate spiritual battlefields. If future archival work permits georeferencing a specific historical building, that point should be added as a separate evidence-backed record.
Source and revision record
Original editorial analysis and definitions. For background reference, consult the source catalog.