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leoofno
Skeptic Friend
USA
346 Posts |
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HalfMooner
Dingaling
Philippines
15831 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 05:34:28 [Permalink]
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I've been searching for more detail, and a photo of the print, all night. I do think Egyptian archaeology is sound, but suspect this item should not have been released to the press prior to radiocarbon dating (assuming that would provide an approximate date for the impression).
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“Biology is just physics that has begun to smell bad.” —HalfMooner
Here's a link to Moonscape News, and one to its Archive. |
| Edited by - HalfMooner on 08/21/2007 08:36:22 |
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Kil
Evil Skeptic
USA
13477 Posts |
 Posted - 08/21/2007 : 07:25:20 [Permalink]
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Khaled Saad, the director of prehistory at the council, said that based on the age of the rock where the footprint was found, it could date back even further than the renowned 3-million year-old fossil Lucy, the partial skeleton of an ape-man, found in Ethiopia in 1974. |
Well, if true, and that is a big if, it would certainly throw a wrench into our current thinking about human evolution. I strongly doubt they have what they think they might have…
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Uncertainty may make you uncomfortable. Certainty makes you ridiculous.
Why not question something for a change?
Genetic Literacy Project |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
 Posted - 08/21/2007 : 07:49:33 [Permalink]
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Ok, let's kick it's ass right now: Scientists are using carbon tests on plants found in the rock to determine its exact age, Hawass said.
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Carbon dating is not effective much beyond 50,000 years. Until better tests are done, it's strictly half-assed speculation.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist! 
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leoofno
Skeptic Friend
USA
346 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 08:29:28 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by filthy
Ok, let's kick it's ass right now: Scientists are using carbon tests on plants found in the rock to determine its exact age, Hawass said.
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Carbon dating is not effective much beyond 50,000 years. Until better tests are done, it's strictly half-assed speculation.
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BINGO!! Thats why I think either 1) they don't know WTF they are doing, or 2) the article has got it all wrong. It will be interesting to get more information. |
"If you're not terrified, you're not paying attention." Eric Alterman
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Siberia
SFN Addict
Brazil
2322 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 09:38:42 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by leoofno
Originally posted by filthy
Ok, let's kick it's ass right now: Scientists are using carbon tests on plants found in the rock to determine its exact age, Hawass said.
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Carbon dating is not effective much beyond 50,000 years. Until better tests are done, it's strictly half-assed speculation.
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BINGO!! Thats why I think either 1) they don't know WTF they are doing, or 2) the article has got it all wrong. It will be interesting to get more information.
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*waits for the inevitable IDists comment on this* |
"Why are you afraid of something you're not even sure exists?"
- The Kovenant, Via Negativa
"People who don't like their beliefs being laughed at shouldn't have such funny beliefs."
-- unknown
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The Rat
SFN Regular
Canada
1370 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 09:50:12 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by leoofno
Originally posted by filthy
Ok, let's kick it's ass right now: Scientists are using carbon tests on plants found in the rock to determine its exact age, Hawass said.
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Carbon dating is not effective much beyond 50,000 years. Until better tests are done, it's strictly half-assed speculation.
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BINGO!! Thats why I think either 1) they don't know WTF they are doing, or 2) the article has got it all wrong. It will be interesting to get more information.
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#2 is more likely in my opinion. The reporter probably heard a researcher say that they were using methods to date it, and then ran the story with reference to the only dating system the reporter has ever heard of other than tree rings. |
Bailey's second law; There is no relationship between the three virtues of intelligence, education, and wisdom.
You fiend! Never have I encountered such corrupt and foul-minded perversity! Have you ever considered a career in the Church? - The Bishop of Bath and Wells, Blackadder II
Baculum's page: http://www.bebo.com/Profile.jsp?MemberId=3947338590 |
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Dave W.
Info Junkie
USA
26022 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 10:06:17 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by Siberia
*waits for the inevitable IDists comment on this* |
That didn't take long.
Note the OP over there copies the story without comment. He basically leaves it to everyone else to assume that the short news item reflects accurately the science being done. Thus, "human" means Homo sapiens sapiens and "carbon tests" means carbon-14 dating, and so therefore the scientists are buffoons who are unwittingly disproving human evolution (and here's a book by a young-Earth creationist to prove it, except ID has nothing to do with religion).
Only "Dizzy" gets things the least little bit correct, with:Why not wait till you could read the original scientific report(s)? Let's follow that advice here, too, shall we? |
- Dave W. (Private Msg, EMail)
Evidently, I rock!
Why not question something for a change?
Visit Dave's Psoriasis Info, too. |
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 08/21/2007 : 12:38:43 [Permalink]
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Upon reflection, what we have here is, I think, some political appointee running his mouth while his brain was out to lunch with his main squeeze.
| "This could go back about two million years," said Zahi Hawass, the secretary general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. "It could be the most important discovery in Egypt," he told Reuters. |
Upon yet further refection, I think that the research team have furiously gnashed their teeth down to the very jawbone over this airhead's remarks. At least they have if they're honest.
The footprint will likely test out to the age of the plant life found in it's association; under 50,000 years, which puts it neatly into the right time frame.
But the damage has been done. The fundies'll rant and the intellectually blind'll follow them like Disney's lemmings.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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filthy
SFN Die Hard
USA
14408 Posts |
Posted - 08/24/2007 : 07:15:40 [Permalink]
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Yep, they're cretins and here is more evidence in support the theory. Jeeze-Louise! It's almost too easy.
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"What luck for rulers that men do not think." -- Adolf Hitler (1889 - 1945)
"If only we could impeach on the basis of criminal stupidity, 90% of the Rethuglicans and half of the Democrats would be thrown out of office." ~~ P.Z. Myres
"The default position of human nature is to punch the other guy in the face and take his stuff." ~~ Dude
Brother Boot Knife of Warm Humanitarianism,
and Crypto-Communist!
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Valiant Dancer
Forum Goalie
USA
4826 Posts |
Posted - 08/25/2007 : 08:52:28 [Permalink]
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Originally posted by filthy
Upon reflection, what we have here is, I think, some political appointee running his mouth while his brain was out to lunch with his main squeeze.
| "This could go back about two million years," said Zahi Hawass, the secretary general of the Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities. "It could be the most important discovery in Egypt," he told Reuters. |
Upon yet further refection, I think that the research team have furiously gnashed their teeth down to the very jawbone over this airhead's remarks. At least they have if they're honest.
The footprint will likely test out to the age of the plant life found in it's association; under 50,000 years, which puts it neatly into the right time frame.
But the damage has been done. The fundies'll rant and the intellectually blind'll follow them like Disney's lemmings.
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I have a great deal of respect for Hawass. However his specialization is in the Pharonic age of Egypt (Archelogy) and not in Anthropology. I note that he is speaking outside his area of expertice. |
Cthulhu/Asmodeus when you're tired of voting for the lesser of two evils
Brother Cutlass of Reasoned Discussion |
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Whats Wrong With This Story?
