Question

What are literary and archaeological sources? Explain with examples.

Answer 1

Instructions:

• Talk about literary sources and oral sources, along with examples.
• After this, move on to the second part of the question - archaeological sources. Explain what they are and how they are obtained through excavation. Give examples as well.

Solution:

Literary sources:

• Literary sources are either written down or passed orally. These sources include written literature, accounts of foreign travellers, epics, and poems, etc.
• Oral literature comprises folk songs, stories, ballads, myths, and legends that were generally composed and disseminated by people.

Archaeological sources:

• The physical remains of objects or constructed structures in the past constitute archaeological sources.
• The remains that have been buried in the Earth are removed through the process of excavation. Excavation refers to the scientific process involved in digging the Earth to obtain ancient remains or fossils.
• Archaeological sources include coins, inscriptions, monuments, pottery, and other artefacts.