Ancient historians' three-tiered hierarchy of sources: first-person, interrogated eyewitness, written account

According to Bauckham, ancient historians (e.g., Josephus, Polybius) valued sources in this order: (1) first-person eyewitness account (ideal), (2) direct interrogation of an eyewitness — asking questions to flesh out details and verify accuracy, (3) a prior written account (lowest because you cannot interrogate it). Papias's preference for a "living voice" over written sources fits this standard ancient historiographical framework — not a knock on written Gospels but a preference for direct eyewitness access before writing it down.