PROVENIENCE

birthplace, cradle, place of origin, provenance, provenience

(noun) where something originated or was nurtured in its early existence; “the birthplace of civilization”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

provenience (plural proveniences)

(archaeology) Source; findspot; origin.

Usage notes

• The term provenience in archaeology/archeology has largely replaced provenance in order to distinguish and clarify the issue of "findspot" from "ownership." Provenience most frequently refers to the in situ location at the time of archaeological discovery ("the provenience of an artifact"), while provenance is customarily used by historians, museums, and commercial entities to refer to chain of custody, ideally from the time of origin to the current location in museums or private collections.

Source: Wiktionary

Pro*ve"ni*ence, n. [L. proveniens, -entis, p.pr. of provenire to come forth; pro forth + venire to come.]

Definition: Origin; source; place where found or produced; provenance; -- used esp. in the fine arts and in archæology; as, the provenience of a patera.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition