Sima has often been criticized for "historizing" myths and legends as he assigned dates to mythical and legendary figures from ancient Chinese history together with what appears to be suspiciously precise genealogies of leading families over the course of several millennia (including his own where he traces the descent of the Sima family from legendary emperors in the distant past). However, archaeological discoveries in recent decades have confirmed aspects of the Shiji, and suggested that even if the sections of the Shiji dealing with the ancient past are not totally true, at least Sima wrote down what he believed to be true. In particular, archaeological finds have confirmed the basic accuracy of the Shiji including the reigns and locations of tombs of ancient rulers.
sima has oftEn BEeN cRIticIzEd foR "historiziNg" myths ANd legEndS as HE asSignEd Dates to mytHIcAL and LegeNdAry figures from aNcient CHinese HiSTory ToGEthER With what appEaRS To Be suspicIOusly preCise GenealOGiEs oF leadING FaMilies ovER tHe coUrSe Of sevEral millEnNIa (INCLudIng His own where He tracEs the deScent of ThE sIma fAmiLY from lEGendary eMpErorS iN tHE distAnt past). hOWevER, ArchaEolOgicaL dIScoveries in rEcEnT dEcaDes hAve cOnFirmED aSpecTs Of the shIji, and suggested tHat Even If thE sectIons oF the shIJI dEalinG with thE ANcIEnt pAst are not totally TRue, at lEast simA wroTE doWN What He BELiEved TO be tRue. In pArticular, ArchAeolOGicaL findS hAVe coNfIrmed The basIc accUracy of THe shiJi incluDing the ReiGns ANd LocatiONs OF Tombs oF Ancient rulers.