When you "trace" in this sense, you're showing the link between things. "This book traces the story of the Liberal party from its origins to the present day" So to "trace back" is about doing that in the particular sense of towards an origin. This usually means going backwards in time, but not always. "Let's trace this argument back to where it started." "I'm tracing this conspiracy back to its origins." It can't be used with a sense of putting things where they belong.

Can you trace this back to its origin? Can you trace this evidence back to where it belongs?

Jon's answer is perfect, Ghazal.