When multiple coppies of the same document are known the odds of them being   
   in the line of of n original are greatly increased.   
      
   We don't have the original frog, only copies of it.  We don't assume there   
   wasn't an original similar frog because only copies are currently known.   
      
   If one only found copies of the declaration of independence it is a   
   reasonable conclusion to think they all point to an original of the same   
   content.   
      
   The consensus of scholarship often follows what other ancient copies of   
   documents also mention of the document in question.  It is not uncommon for   
   a source known only by such reference to later show up as a newly   
   discovered copy of it.   
      
   >Look. We don't have that much information. We do   
   >not have a good grasp on the sociopolitical dynamics   
   >of ancient Rome. All we have is the highly baised   
   >opinions of modern scholars which are loosely based   
   >(if based at all) on ancient sources which themselves   
   >did not survive.   
   >   
   >You read that right.   
   >   
   >Almost none of our ancient Roman sources come to   
   >us from ancient Romans. Almost all of our records   
   >are latter day manuscripts. Supposedly they're all copies   
   >of originals, yes, but few mention those originals, offer   
   >any provenance what so ever.   
   >   
   >I'll explain.   
   >   
   >You can actually go to Washington DC and view an original   
   >copy of the Declaration of Independence. And that copy has   
   >in turn been the basis for many copies of the document.   
   >   
   >Right?   
   >   
   >So you can hold a copy of the U.S. Declaration of Independence   
   >in your hand that's only a few weeks old but still know exactly   
   >what it is a copy of -- WHERE the source document was found,   
   >the one they based the document on.   
   >   
   >Not too many of our versions of ancient books have any clear   
   >lineage to an original ancient source document.   
   >   
   >"Well, hey, I was in Rome last week, my Uncle Ted had a thousand   
   >year old copy of Josephus written in his own hand and I made   
   >this and another copy, so enjoy."   
   >   
   >Never happens.   
   >   
   >What I'm saying is that we don't know. It took us a millennia of   
   >prodding to figure out their concrete and we had examples of   
   >the stuff to look at!  We're still scratching our heads over how   
   >they made some of their glass, and we can't nail down common   
   >recipes!  Garum was ubiquitous and we believe we know the   
   >process but nobody knows the recipe. There are precisely ZERO   
   >modern products said to be Roman garum, though many   
   >products which are described as similar...   
   >   
   >Yet, morons state with such certainty that they know why Rome   
   >fell, that they KNOW all the forces at work, the KNOW how these   
   >forces interact... THEY KNOW!   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >   
   >-- --   
   >   
   >https://uapro.tumblr.com/post/634644176738418688/theyd-love-to-   
   ee-some-ufoparanormal   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)