Historical sciences are most similarly compared to which type of work?

Historical sciences are best compared to detective work because both involve piecing together evidence from various sources to reconstruct events that have already occurred. In the realm of historical sciences, such as paleontology, geology, or archaeology, scientists analyze fossils, rock formations, and artifacts to understand the history of life on Earth and to deduce how organisms and environments have changed over time. Just like detectives use clues and interviews to solve cases about past events, historical scientists rely on a range of data, including biological, chemical, and geological information, to formulate hypotheses about the past.

This analogy emphasizes the investigative nature of historical sciences, highlighting the importance of observation, critical thinking, and synthesis of information from diverse fields to arrive at conclusions about historical processes.