Are Church Fathers' writings archaeologically reliable?

[QKev]

Are the writings of the ancient Church Fathers, e.g., Polycarp, Clement, etc., considered as reliable, in a secular archaeological and historical sense, as the New Testament writings?

And, therefore, is it generally held by scholars that we have reliable knowledge of the Church Fathers’ beliefs?

I am converting to the Catholic faith partly because of such writings, and I need to know if I can make these claims as I explain my defection to my evangelical friends.

Blessings on all of you!
Q

 

[Image_of_God]

Every Denomination that wishes to be called “Christian” must adhere to them, because they are pratically the only information we have for the time after the Apostles to the time of Charlemagne. Every true Christian Church respects St. Athanasius as a “Defender of the Faith.” The Writings are Archaeolically reliable and usually except by most mainstream Christian groups.
There really is no other information on Christianity for that particular time.