HISTORY|problems with sources

• fact and opinion
• one sided accounts
• conflicting accounts
• bias
• propaganda

• mistranslations
• anachronism
• pet theories

• damage to artefacts
• written evidence and archaeological evidence may not agree
• artefacts may not survive complete
• intrusions
• difficult to interoperate 
• propaganda

difficult to distinguish between the two

only hearing one side of the story

several sources can give conflicting evidence

must be aware of prejudice that can affect writers attitude:

• -race
• -gender
• -political factors
• -cultural factors

the spreading of ideas, information or rumour to injure or help a cause, person or institution.

what is the purpose of the source?

language problems with translation of sources

anything out of place in its time or context.

archaeologists can develop theories and try to prove them by using only a selection of evidence and ignoring what does not back up their theory.

may have incomplete picture

not give the same information

may be because of material

found in wrong strata

without written evidence, can only make an inference.