Why can an ancient fragment make a composite archaeological forgery seem convincing?

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Hear about William Henry Ireland's fake manuscripts of William Shakespeare including a letter written to his wife — Forgery A look at a letter supposedly written by William Shakespeare to his wife, Anne Hathaway; it was, in fact, faked by William-Henry Ireland.

In the context of archaeological forgery, a composite piece—often referred to as a pastiche—can appear convincing because it incorporates a genuine ancient element, such as the head of a terra-cotta figure, while the remainder of the object is modern workmanship.1

This inclusion of authentic material serves to deceive the buyer by providing a tangible, verifiable link to the past. When a forger combines this genuine fragment with modern additions to complete the object, the presence of the authentic component can lend an air of legitimacy to the entire piece, making it significantly more difficult for collectors and experts to identify the fraud.1