McGrath,

in most academic research, appeal to authority is not a sin and indeed is absolutely necessary. It is impossible to logically prove history. It simply happened, leaving traces of evidence behind. And since every historian cannot examine every piece of evidence, the common practice is to trust the research that has been previously published in reputable venues, unless there are inconsistencies. The reason for academic publishing is so that we don't have to repeat every experiment and archaeological dig.

I was very careful not to say sorefingers is necessarily wrong, merely that the preponderance of published evidence, some of which I then cited, did not support his theory. It would be irresponsible for any historian working in an age so distant to claim more certitude than that.