This document provides guidance on analyzing primary sources from history, including archaeological and written sources. It advises examining sources for context, reliability, and bias. For archaeological sources, it suggests considering the source's context, date, condition, and what evidence it provides about the past. For written sources, it recommends analyzing the type of source, author, date, purpose, intended audience, reliability, and usefulness. The document also notes the importance of considering an author's background, views, experiences, gender, social factors, and what they omitted when evaluating potential bias.

1. Sources, Reliability and Bias

2. What do we learn about history from this source?

3. What do we learn about history from this source?n.b. This was taken at a museum in Agrigento, Italy.

4. Archaeological Sources

5. Questions to AskWhat is it?In what context was it found?Can it be accurately dated?How does it’s condition affect its interpretation?Is it reliable and/or useful in providing evidence about the past?What evidence does the source provide about the past?

6. Written Sources

7. Questions to AskWhat type of written source it is?Who wrote it and when?What was the writer’s purpose?Who was the intended audience?Is it reliable?Is it useful in providing evidence about the period?

8. ReliabilityA suggested framework:DateAuthorMaterialMotiveIntended audienceType of source Or Tone

9. BiasWhen attempting to discover the bias of a source, try investigating the following:BackgroundPolitical viewsLife experiencesGenderSocial/RacialOften overlooked, but equally as important, what HASN’T the author included in his/her work.