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Why do historians critically examine sources before writing about the past?

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Neo-Assyrian clay tablet from the 7th century BC inscribed with dense cuneiform writing, known as the Flood Tablet from the Epic of Gilgamesh, displayed in the British Museum. — epigraphy The Flood Tablet, 11th cuneiform tablet in a series relating the Gilgamesh epic, from Nineveh, 7th century bce; in the British Museum, London.

Historians critically examine sources because historical records are rarely neutral or complete; they often contain biases, legends, or propaganda that can distort the truth. By applying rigorous historiography—the analytical ordering and interpretation of the past—historians aim to move beyond these filters to achieve a more accurate understanding of events.12

Critical examination is essential for several reasons:

Identifying Bias and Purpose: Many early documents were written for specific purposes, such as glorifying a ruler or promoting a particular ideology, rather than providing an objective account.1
Verifying Authenticity: Historians must distinguish between factual records and legendary or mythic narratives. Techniques such as carbon-14 dating and DNA testing help authenticate evidence.2
Cross-Referencing: Epigraphy—the study of inscriptions—provides primary data that can corroborate or challenge the claims of ancient historians. For example, inscriptions have been used to verify the veracity of writers like Herodotus.34
Contextualizing Information: Sources may lack linear time depth or use different calendar systems, requiring historians to synchronize them with established chronologies.14

Ultimately, skepticism toward sources and the insistence on evidence-based arguments are fundamental to the historian's mission of recovering the past accurately.5