CASTLE ATLAS

Data method

How the Castle Atlas Discovery Index Is Built

What source-identified means, what the 26,802-site count includes, and what the index does not claim.

Castle Atlas separates broad discovery from deep editorial coverage. The committed discovery snapshot contains 26,802 source-identified fortified sites across 156 country/territory codes; detailed profiles and publication review are separate layers.

Selection boundary

The discovery query accepts coordinate-bearing direct instances of four explicit fortification roots with current-country ISO codes and English labels. It does not infer a site type from its name.

  • 20,599 records are classified as castles.
  • 4,048 are forts, 1,970 fortresses, and 185 citadels.
  • The snapshot is a living index, not a completeness claim.

Identity and revision evidence

Each discovery record retains a Wikidata QID and source revision evidence. A 150-record audit matched official Wikibase revisions exactly in the local release ledger.

  • Identity starts with a source identifier.
  • Duplicate query rows are reconciled.
  • Invalid coordinates and missing English labels are rejected.

Discovery is not editorial depth

The full index provides names, coordinates, country codes, and types. Rich narrative, visitor information, media, and historical claims require separate sourcing and review.

  • Do not read 26,802 as 26,802 finished profiles.
  • Machine-enriched records remain pending publication review.
  • Visitor details need recent authoritative verification.

Sources and review scope

Reviewed September 1, 2026. The examples below support identity and dataset method. They do not by themselves support current visitor information or a complete historical profile.