find spot / reference
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find spot
A place where something special or sought-after was found, especially in archaeological excavations, paleontology, or police investigations.
Die Archäologen haben die Fundstelle der römischen Münzen weiträumig abgesperrt.
The archaeologists cordoned off a wide area around the find spot of the Roman coins.
The word is made up of 'der Fund' (find) and 'die Stelle' (place/spot). So it literally means 'the place of a find.' This helps you understand both meanings: a physical place and a 'place' in a text.
Die Polizei hat die Fundstelle der gestohlenen Ware entdeckt.
The police discovered the find spot of the stolen goods.
The context makes it clear which meaning is intended. Words like 'Archäologie' (archaeology), 'Polizei' (police), or 'Ausgrabung' (excavation) point to the physical place. Terms like 'Text' (text), 'Zitat' (quote), 'Gesetz' (law), or 'Seite' (page) refer to the place in a document.
Die Paläontologen sicherten die Fundstelle des Dinosaurierskeletts.
The paleontologists secured the find spot of the dinosaur skeleton.
When referring to a physical place, the find spot is often 'discovered,' 'secured,' or 'cordoned off.' These verbs are typical in archaeological or police contexts.
Nach dem Leichenfund wurde die Fundstelle weiträumig abgesperrt.
After the body was found, a wide area around the find spot was cordoned off.
When a place in a text is meant, the reference is often 'provided,' 'named,' 'cited,' or 'documented.' These verbs are typical in academic or legal contexts.
Für eine gute wissenschaftliche Arbeit muss man jede Fundstelle exakt angeben.
For a good academic paper, you have to provide every reference precisely.
In the meaning of 'Textstelle' (passage in a text), the word is typical of academic, administrative, and legal language. It is used whenever one needs to refer precisely to a source.
Der Anwalt prüfte die Fundstelle im Vertrag sehr genau.
The lawyer examined the reference in the contract very carefully.
source
'die Quelle' and 'die Fundstelle' can both help you find information in a text. 'die Quelle' names the work or medium the information comes from, for example a book, an article, or a website. 'die Fundstelle' gives the exact place where the information is found, for example a page, a paragraph, or a legal section. They can be confused because both are used when citing information. So the source says 'where from', while the reference says 'where exactly there'.
Nach dem Unterricht hat Ali die Fundstelle im Gesetz noch einmal markiert.
After class, Ali marked the reference in the law again.
Im Gespräch nennt der Experte die Quelle seiner Zahlen.
In the conversation, the expert names the source of his figures.