Lost written records can leave questions that material evidence alone cannot readily answer. Archaeology and historical sources can support a more reliable interpretation when a defensible connection exists between them. An artifact must be dated and linked to the relevant culture before a written account can safely explain it. Some Roman-era names may instead be titles, and the origins of some groups remain uncertain.
Notable Point · 2:03:46-2:12:27
Why archaeology works best beside written sources
Artifacts become more informative when dated written sources can guide interpretation, test identities, and expose uncertainty about names, titles, and peoples.