samlingsdato

Samlingsdato is a term used to describe the date on which something was collected or gathered. In Norwegian and other Scandinavian languages, samlingsdato is commonly used in fields such as research, statistics, archaeology, and museum work to denote the moment of data or material collection, distinct from later processing, entry, or publication dates.

In practice, samlingsdato appears as part of metadata for datasets, samples, or artifacts. It is recorded together with information such as location, method, sample type, and collector, and it helps establish the temporal context of the item. The date can be crucial for assessing data relevance, seasonal or historical patterns, and comparability across studies. It is typically stored in a standard date format to facilitate sorting and analysis, and is often contrasted with related dates such as registreringsdato (date of recording) or publiseringsdato (publication date).

Contexts where samlingsdato is important include biological or environmental sampling, clinical or laboratory studies, and field collections of artifacts or specimens. In these settings, accurately documenting the sampling date supports provenance, traceability, and reproducibility. When recording samlingsdato, practitioners aim for precision (including day, month, and year when possible) and consistency with applicable metadata standards. See also metadata, sampling date, and data provenance for related concepts.