1. Plural of protohistory; the period of human history for which some written records exist but are fragmentary or limited, bridging prehistory and recorded history.
Usage: academic; archaeology
2. Plural of protohistory; historical accounts or narratives that are based on limited or partially reliable sources.
Usage: academic

Examples

• Archaeologists study the protohistories of ancient civilizations using pottery shards and inscriptions.
• The protohistories of the Mediterranean region reveal the transition from oral tradition to written record.
• Many protohistories of early European societies rely on fragmentary Latin texts and local legends.
• Scholars debate the reliability of protohistories that blend myth with documented events.
• The protohistories of pre-Columbian Americas are reconstructed from both indigenous codices and Spanish colonial accounts.