1. A method of generating an index for a body of data, said method comprising: receiving a plurality of values associated with a plurality of respective attributes characterized by a plurality of respective hierarchies; generating a plurality of entries in the index, the entries including a parent entry having a plurality of bounds associated respectively with the values and located at respective positions within the respective hierarchies; determining a plurality of child positions, wherein one of the child positions is associated with one of the bounds of one of the parent entries and located at a first position in one of the respective hierarchies, and the one of the child positions is strictly included within the one of the bounds of the parent entry within the one of the respective hierarchies; generating a plurality of child entries based on the parent entry, wherein one of the child entries includes a child bound that is located at a second position in one of the respective hierarchies and the child bound is strictly included within the one of the bounds within said one of the respective hierarchies; and storing the one of the child positions in association with the parent entry and the one of the child entries.