* Literary sources provide a more detailed and comprehensive account of history. They can provide information about the thoughts, feelings, and motivations of historical figures, as well as the social, economic, and political conditions of the time. Archaeological evidence, on the other hand, can only provide a partial and fragmentary picture of the past.
* Literary sources are often more reliable than archaeological evidence. Archaeological evidence can be biased or incomplete, and it can be difficult to interpret. Literary sources, on the other hand, can be more objective and accurate, as they are written by people who were actually there and experienced the events firsthand.
* Literary sources can provide a more nuanced and sophisticated understanding of history. They can help us to understand the causes and consequences of historical events, and to see the connections between different events and trends. Archaeological evidence, on the other hand, can only provide a superficial and simplistic understanding of history.
Arguments in favor of archaeological evidence:
* Archaeological evidence is more objective than literary sources. Literary sources can be biased or inaccurate, as they are written by people who have their own perspectives and agendas. Archaeological evidence, on the other hand, is more objective, as it is based on physical evidence that cannot be easily manipulated or distorted.
* Archaeological evidence can provide a more complete picture of the past. Literary sources only provide information about a limited number of people and events. Archaeological evidence, on the other hand, can provide information about a much wider range of people and events, including those who were not literate or who did not leave behind written records.
* Archaeological evidence can help us to understand the material culture of the past. Literary sources can tell us about the ideas and beliefs of historical figures, but they cannot tell us about their everyday lives. Archaeological evidence, on the other hand, can provide us with a wealth of information about the material culture of the past, including the food that people ate, the clothes they wore, and the tools they used.
Ultimately, the best way to write history is to use both literary sources and archaeological evidence. By combining these two types of evidence, we can get a more complete and accurate understanding of the past.