Term: provenance

Provenance (noun) /ˈprɒv.ən.əns/:

1. The place of origin or earliest known history of something. LV: izcelsme, izcelsmes vieta.
2. A record of ownership of a work of art or an antique, used as a guide to authenticity or quality. LV: provenience (mākslas priekšmeta vēsture/dokumentācija).
3. In computing, the metadata that tracks the history of data, including who created it and how it has been modified. LV: datu izcelsmes vēsture.

Example sentences:

1. Experts are still trying to determine the exact provenance of the ancient gold coins found in the forest.
2. The painting’s provenance can be traced back directly to the artist’s studio in 1890.
3. Establishing the provenance of information is essential for fighting fake news on the internet.

Common phrases:

• Trace the provenance: To research and find the original source or history of an object.”Historians were able to trace the provenance of the letter back to the French Revolution.”
• Of doubtful provenance: Used when the origin or authenticity of something is suspicious or unproven.”The museum refused to buy the vase because it was of doubtful provenance.”
• Data provenance: The documentation of where data comes from and what processes it has undergone.”Cloud systems use data provenance to ensure that information has not been tampered with.”