well, yeah. Bernal's phrase for uncertainty of theoretical claims in the business is "reasonable plausibility."

I take your point therefore in defense of volumes of historiography published by "professional" and amateur classicists that deviate in any respect from eurocentric, judeo-christian "interpretations" of The Evidence. Hell, that deadline 8,000 BCE (canon, first "civilization")? It is whimsical, strictly speaking as dating conventions on which all sorts of ancillary research relies have been upset by supposed hi-fi material analyses several times in the last 50 years.  

So too are toponymic conventions :) among the ancients and the interpreters. Cunieform Ugaritic and Hurrian or Linears A and B, don't translate themselves, yo. Elsewhere, oral "tradition" is SOL on the *Matters-Meter.

I promoted this one article, for example, and a couple of pertinent lectures (previously) to illustrate the state of play in sociology of knowledge. Premium added to "greek" democracy is fading.

Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.