Originalquelle

Originalquelle is a term used in research and historiography to designate the primary source: a document, artifact, or testimony created at or near the time of an event, or by someone with direct involvement. Originalquellen provide firsthand evidence that researchers use to reconstruct events, contexts, or processes.

In scholarly usage, Originalquelle contrasts with Sekundärquelle and Tertiärquelle. While secondary and tertiary sources interpret, synthesize, or summarize original materials, Originalquellen are the raw materials from which analyses originate. The value and reliability of an Originalquelle depend on provenance, dating, context, and preservation.

Common examples include official records, decrees, letters, diaries, eyewitness testimonies, audio or video recordings, maps, artifacts, or raw data from experiments. In digital research, original data sets, unedited archive scans, and untransformed files are treated as Originalquellen.

Researchers assess authenticity and relevance by examining authorship, date, purpose, and preservation conditions, and by corroborating with other sources. Limitations include gaps, biases, censorship, or intentional alterations in the source’s origin; translation or transcription may introduce further distortions.

Originalquellen are foundational across disciplines such as history, archaeology, linguistics, anthropology, journalism, and the sciences, where they ground conclusions in direct evidence. Proper handling requires careful citation, clear provenance notes, and transparent methodology.