Final answer:
Studying historical documents and small artifacts is crucial for understanding the past, making the statement false. Primary sources are particularly valuable, as they provide direct evidence of historical events. Theories do not turn into laws over time; this is a common misconception.
Step-by-step explanation:
The statement that "Studying small pieces of paper from hundreds of years ago will tell researchers very little" is false. Researchers can glean a vast amount of information from historical documents and artifacts, no matter how seemingly insignificant.
These materials can provide invaluable insights into the social, economic, and cultural aspects of a past society. Primary sources, such as contemporary accounts or official documents, are especially valuable to historians as they offer direct evidence of past events and can be used to construct historical narratives.
The interpretation of historical periods benefits profoundly from the study of such artifacts, and the evidence they provide complements archaeological findings to create a more complete understanding of history.
When considering historical research, it is also essential to recognize that theories do not become laws over time; instead, they may become widely accepted explanations or models of phenomena. The concept that a theory becomes a law over time is false.
Furthermore, while researchers must be wary of the context and authenticity of sources, including the possibility of misinformation, these challenges do not diminish the value of historical texts and artifacts in researching and understanding the past.