Unless the artifacts were archeologically excavated and professionally conserved, they probably were fake to some degree. The art market treats ancient artifact

Unless the artifacts were archeologically excavated and professionally conserved, they probably were fake to some degree. The art market treats ancient artifacts like more modern art, which are to be admired for their aesthetic qualities and rarity rather than what they can tell us about the past. They are to be bought and sold as an investment. They are to be displayed to demonstrate refinement, sophistication, and wealth. The result is that unscrupulous "restorations" that enhance the aesthetic value of and apparent condition of artifacts are par for the course. The Oriental Institute Museum at the University of Chicago has a really great exhibit[0] on this topic right now, comparing Roman marbles archeologically excavated by the university with similar items obtained from the art market. The exhibit opening lecture on YouTube is worth watching if you're interested in this kind of thing. [0] https://oi.uchicago.edu/marbles https://oi.uchicago.edu/marbles [1] https://youtu.be/DnMO5nYP-eo https://youtu.be/DnMO5nYP-eo