diff --git a/src/main/java/edu/harvard/iq/dataverse/search/schema/SolrFieldBase.java b/src/main/java/edu/harvard/iq/dataverse/search/schema/SolrFieldBase.java
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+++ b/src/main/java/edu/harvard/iq/dataverse/search/schema/SolrFieldBase.java
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+package edu.harvard.iq.dataverse.search.schema;
+
+import java.util.*;
+import java.util.regex.Matcher;
+import java.util.regex.Pattern;
+
+/**
+ * Solr <field>, <dynamicField>, <fieldType> base class.
+ *
+ * See {@link SolrFieldType}, {@link SolrDynamicField}, {@link SolrField} for implementing subclasses.
+ */
+public class SolrFieldBase {
+    
+    protected static final Matcher validNameMatcher = Pattern.compile("^[A-Za-z_][\\w]+$").matcher("");
+    protected final Map<SolrFieldProperty, String> properties = new EnumMap<>(SolrFieldProperty.class);
+    
+    /**
+     * Create a very basic Solr field (can be used as a fieldtype, dynamicfield or field, but not copyfield),
+     * requiring a name.
+     * Visibility "package private" to allow testing and usage from subclasses. Not meant to be used directly.
+     * @param nameProperty Value for XML property "name" in schema
+     * @throws IllegalArgumentException When nameProperty does not follow Solr naming convention.
+     * @see #isValidName(String)
+     */
+    SolrFieldBase(String nameProperty) {
+        if(! isValidName(nameProperty))
+            throw new IllegalArgumentException(nameProperty+" does not meet Solr naming convention.");
+        this.properties.put(SolrFieldProperty.NAME, nameProperty);
+    }
+    
+    public final String getName() {
+        if (! hasProperty(SolrFieldProperty.NAME)) {
+            // This should never happen, as the name property is required.
+            // If it does, sth. has gone wrong very seriously.
+            throw new NoSuchElementException();
+        }
+        return properties.get(SolrFieldProperty.NAME);
+    }
+    
+    /**
+     * Check if a name is matching Solr naming convention:
+     * "Field names should consist of alphanumeric or underscore characters only and not start with a digit.
+     * This is not currently strictly enforced, but other field names will not have first class support from all
+     * components and back compatibility is not guaranteed. Names with both leading and trailing underscores
+     * (e.g., _version_) are reserved."
+     *
+     * This may be overriden by {@link SolrDynamicField}, as names for these always start with "*_" matchers.
+     * @param name The name to check. Null-safe.
+     * @return true if matching Solr convention, false otherwise.
+     * @see <a href="https://solr.apache.org/guide/8_8/defining-fields.html">Solr Docs: Defining Fields</a>
+     */
+    public static boolean isValidName(String name) {
+        if (name == null) return false;
+        return validNameMatcher.reset(name).matches();
+    }
+    public final boolean hasProperty(SolrFieldProperty p) {
+        return properties.containsKey(p);
+    }
+    public final Optional<String> getProperty(SolrFieldProperty p) { return Optional.ofNullable(properties.get(p)); }
+    public final Map<SolrFieldProperty, String> getProperties() { return properties; }
+    
+    @Override
+    public boolean equals(Object o) {
+        if (this == o) return true;
+        if (!(o instanceof SolrFieldBase)) return false;
+        SolrFieldBase that = (SolrFieldBase) o;
+        // Uniqueness is on names in Solr Schema.
+        return this.getName().equals(that.getName());
+    }
+    
+    @Override
+    public int hashCode() {
+        return Objects.hash(properties);
+    }
+}