Source-led historical research
Keep every reading connected to its source.
Our methodology separates source identification, transcription, interpretation and verification. Each answers a different question.
Initial research introduction ยท Source reviews remain in progress.
1. Identify the source
A work, an edition, a scanned copy and an individual page are not interchangeable. A reference should identify the specific source that was examined.
2. Separate text from interpretation
Reading the printed text comes before explaining its meaning. An interpretation should not silently replace an unclear word or numeral.
3. Record gaps and disagreements
Unclear characters and conflicting readings can remain unresolved. We do not fill missing historical entries by assuming symmetry or numerical patterns.
4. Distinguish kinds of verification
A matching file hash confirms byte integrity. It does not establish that a transcription is correct, an interpretation is justified or a claim is empirically valid.