Primary sources are original materials from the time period being studied. They are direct evidence of historical events and provide firsthand accounts or direct evidence of the past. In the study of ancient history, primary sources include a wide range of materials such as inscriptions, coins, papyrus scrolls, legal documents, and artifacts.
These sources are invaluable for historians as they offer direct insights into the societies, cultures, and events of the ancient world.
The “Rosetta Stone,” an ancient Egyptian artifact inscribed with a decree in three scripts, is a primary source that played a key role in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs.
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