Tutorial 2: Evaluating Primary Sources

Artifacts and material culture

Many museums and archival institutions collect objects from daily life that can be used in historical research. Archaeologists produce a steady stream of new material from digs around the world.

To be used as historical evidence, an artifact should ideally come with some documentation describing when it was made and where it was found; otherwise, an expert may be required to identify and date the item.

For an example of a collection of digital photos of artifacts, click