Why do some scholars connect ancient traditions about Aaron with the northern kingdom of Israel?

Some scholars connect ancient traditions about Aaron to the northern kingdom of Israel based on the narrative of the golden calf.

According to some biblical critics, this account—which depicts Aaron in an unfavorable light—originally functioned as an ancient tradition from the northern kingdom that identified Aaron as the ancestor of its own priestly line. These scholars suggest that the story was later rewritten in a way that was defamatory toward Aaron, possibly to undermine the legitimacy of northern priesthoods in favor of those in the south.1

Furthermore, some researchers propose a broader distinction between the traditions of the two regions: they suggest that traditions concerning Moses reflect a southern Judaean origin, while the older traditions regarding Aaron originated in the north. In this view, the Moses traditions are primarily associated with prophecy, whereas the Aaron traditions are more deeply connected to the priesthood.1