Knowing how to handle sources confidently is a fundamental prerequisite for anyone wishing to study the ancient world, but a systematic introduction to what are known as the ?auxiliary sciences= has not previously been available. Patrick Reinard and his team of authors now present the first volume in the new series ?Tools for Historians=. With the help of concrete examples, readers can find out how archaeological, epigraphic, numismatic, papyrological and philological sources are located, collected and published. The volume also provides information on additional ways of using sources, such as prosopography or historical geography. The scholarly disciplines are each introduced by experts, presenting the state of research, methods and further reading, as well as links, in an easily readable way. An absolute must for anyone interested in history.

Patrick Reinard is a professor at the University of Trier.