Primary Source

From MiddleWiki

The most desired sort of source for documentation, especially for an A&S Competition. Only an actual object can be considered a Primary source for that object. A photograph, written description or other second-hand knowledge of an object is *not* a Primary source. Obviously, primary sources are not available for some of the arts and sciences such as the Performing Arts, we have no actual, living dancers from the middle ages to witness. Fortunately the A&S Competition criteria for those A&S Divisions are written to accomodate this lack.

For example:

An illuminated manuscript is a primary source for illuminated manuscripts. The picture of a dress in the manuscript is a secondary source for dress of the time of the manuscript.

See also: Secondary Source, Tertiary Source