Final answer:
The study of abnormality in prehistory poses challenges for historians due to limited documentation and conflicting approaches in understanding diseases.
Step-by-step explanation:
The study of abnormality in prehistory is a complex task for historians due to the lack of robust documentation and the different perspectives in understanding disease. Historians face a dilemma in reconstructing historical participants' perception of abnormality using an emic approach or using the methods of modern science, an etic approach. For example, retrospective diagnosis based on textual sources may not accurately identify specific microbiological pathogens. It is important to resist the temptation to cherry-pick milestones in human history as many dramatic disruptions caused by pathogens, climate change, and natural disasters are poorly recorded.