When studying artifacts there are a few special considerations regarding relevance, accuracy and purpose.- What effect has the passage of time had on the artifacts?
Just because you cannot find preserved evidence of something doesn’t mean it didn’t exist, it just means that we cannot prove it existed. Written records often endure longer than oral traditions. Some materials seem to last forever, other decay away quickly.- Lack of evidence also needs to be critically considered when evaluating the artifacts we do have.
People in the past usually focused on only those things they deemed important enough to record. Much of the information on mundane, ordinary activities just didn’t make the cut. They were as likely to explain everyday things people took for granted as we are to write in our diary about brushing our teeth.- Keep in mind the producer, culture, user, etc. of the artifact.
What did they feel was important to protect or preserve? Formal dresses are likely to to have been handled with more care than undergarments. Royal and religious artifacts are likely to have been better protected and preserved than items belonging to the working class.- When evaluating artwork, keep in mind the artist’s purpose.
Were they trying to capture a scene as accurately as possible, or were they painting a portrait in a way to make the subject look as attractive as possible? You also need to understand the artist’s point of view. For example, a painter with no tailoring experience is likely to focus on form, shape and color, rather than the seams and stitching of a particular dress.