No, we don't. What always surprises me most in these kinds of conversations, is that so many people assume that today's knowledge of ancient history (and prehistory) is the final word on the matter, and that everything that can be known, is known.
Actually, our knowledge of prehistory is continually growing. Old theories are slowly amended, or even proven completely wrong by the growing base of artifacts.
The article I linked points out many cases of these puzzling artifacts, which don't fit the established prehistorical narrative, and overturn many preconceived notions of what came before.
The biggest obstacle to understanding our planet's prehistory is academia itself, which tends to deny the validity of any archaeological find that doesn't fit the establishment line. I've read stories about archaeologists whose careers were ruined because they dared to publicize finds that conflicted or debunked the accepted narrative of the academic ruling class.
There's a good book on the subject called, Forbidden Archaeology by Michael Cremo.
Didn’t they pull up an ancient astrolabe from the med from before when the technology should have been possible?
I think you're referring to the Antikythera mechanism, a geared device manufactured ca. 100 BCE, believed to be a device for predicting the motion of the sun, moon and planets.
That device has been reverse-engineered, and rebuilt. When the gears are put into motion, it does appear to predict the movements of the solar system. The consensus of the scientific community is that it is indeed a real device from antiquity, but it's still not known whether it was a commonplace instrument, or if the retrieved artifact is one of a kind.
It was no doubt "the final authority" ~ and very important.
In Greece as in China the leadeship elites could command resources sufficient to produce First Item stuff. They just couldn't produce these things in mass quantities.
It might have been something rare but there was enough knowledge around in 100 BC in one place to build something like that? I realize the Romans built all sorts of things but that would take the cake, especially so early.