NEW YORK -- A new analysis of bones unearthed nearly 40 years ago in Ethiopia has pushed the fossil record of modern humans back to nearly 200,000 years ago - perhaps close to the dawn of the species.
Researchers determined that the specimens are around 195,000 years old. Previously, the oldest known fossils of Homo sapiens were Ethiopian skulls dated to about 160,000 years ago.
The inquisitive mind is bound to ask, "How did they determine the age?"
"To find the age of the skulls, the researchers determined that volcanic rock lying just below the sediment that contained the fossils was about 196,000 years old. They then found evidence that the fossil-bearing sediment was deposited soon after that time."
The article says "determined" when I think they meant "decided." Wouldn't you love to have a paleoscientist as your defense attorney?
Attorney: I demand that you drop all charges against me client.
Judge: On what basis?
Attorney: My colleages have determined that the crime was perpetrated by a thief. Theives live in prisons. My client does not live in a prison, therefore he is not a thief. Thus, he could not have commited the crime.
It must be extremely convient to be able to contrive your premises ex nihilo. I wish Christians were allowed the same freedom.
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