Artifacts are categorized as what kind of source?

Artifacts are categorized as primary sources because they are direct, first-hand pieces of evidence from the time period or event being studied. Primary sources provide original data and insights, allowing researchers and historians to analyze and interpret cultural, social, or historical contexts directly from the materials themselves. Artifacts, such as tools, clothing, and works of art, embody the experiences, practices, and beliefs of the individuals who created and used them. This direct connection to the past is what distinguishes them as primary sources, as opposed to secondary sources, which interpret or analyze primary sources, and tertiary sources, which compile and summarize information from primary and secondary sources. Trustworthiness, while important for assessing any type of source, is not a defining characteristic of how artifacts are classified within source categories.