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Originally posted by Harte
Originally posted by winston_boy
Carbon dating is based on some very dubious assumptions and mainstream science comes with its own agenda.
The former is certainly not true, but the latter, illustrative of any human endeavor, is an obvious statement of fact.
Originally posted by Thill
Originally posted by Harte
Originally posted by winston_boy
Carbon dating is based on some very dubious assumptions and mainstream science comes with its own agenda.
The former is certainly not true, but the latter, illustrative of any human endeavor, is an obvious statement of fact.
I know this thread is old but, since there was an experiment done that proves that the decay of radioactive materials is not a constant like we were taught to believe , does that not mean that carbon dating is well flawed and should not be relied on as absolute proof ?
Link to article about the radioactive materials decay experiment : www.physorg.com...
edit on 31/10/10 by Thill because: (no reason given)
Originally posted by micpsi
Originally posted by Thill
Originally posted by Harte
Originally posted by winston_boy
Carbon dating is based on some very dubious assumptions and mainstream science comes with its own agenda.
The former is certainly not true, but the latter, illustrative of any human endeavor, is an obvious statement of fact.
I know this thread is old but, since there was an experiment done that proves that the decay of radioactive materials is not a constant like we were taught to believe , does that not mean that carbon dating is well flawed and should not be relied on as absolute proof ?
Link to article about the radioactive materials decay experiment : www.physorg.com...
edit on 31/10/10 by Thill because: (no reason given)
The cyclic variation is not enough to make carbon-14 dating so unreliable as to be useless. When geology measures changes in millions of years, what is important about a few thousand years discrepancy?
Originally posted by Thill
The importance of this is that if one thing can affect the change in radiotope decay , who is to say that there is nothing else that can/is influencing the decay ? Just because we did not find it yet , does not mean it is not there. Remember we have been taught that the decay of radioactive materials is a constant and nothing can affect it , and now we see that this is not the case
Harte: Dendrochronology, among other methods, is used to calibrate C14 dates, which is why you'll find terms like the "carbon date" or the number of "carbon years" for artifacts that are dated this way.
“However, three or four rings formed in one year is not uncommon, especially if the tree grows on a slope, with the ground several times in a year turning wet and dry because of rapid outflow of water.” - Botanical Review, Glueck et al, 7, 649-713 & 21, 245-365
“Amazingly, using such t-value analysis, Yamaguchi found 113 different matches having a confidence level of greater than 99.9%. For example, Yamaguchi demonstrated that his log could cross-match with other tree-ring sequences to give t-values of around 5 at AD 1504 (for the low end of the ring age), 7 at AD 1647 and 4.5 at AD 1763. Six of these matches were non-overlapping. That means that this particular piece of wood could be dated to be any one of those six vastly different ages to within a 99.9% degree of confidence.” - Tree-Ring Bulletin, Interpretation of cross correlation between tree-ring series, 46:47-54, Yamaguchi DK.1986
“… the result is a system in which investigators can claim any plausible results and yet are accountable to no one… The central conclusion is clear: Anatolian tree-ring studies are very untrustworthy and the problems with the work should be plain to anyone who has familiarity with the field. This is a serious matter." - The Limehouse Cut, Anatolian tree-ring studies are untrustworthy, Douglas J. Keenan, 2004
"As a tree physiologist who has devoted his career to understanding how trees make wood, I have made sufficient observations on tree rings and cambial growth to know that dendrochronology is not at all an exact science. Indeed, its activities include subjective interpretations of what does and what does not constitute an annual ring, statistical manipulation of data to fulfill subjective expectations, and discarding of perfectly good data sets when they contradict other data sets that have already been accepted. Such massaging of data cannot by any stretch of the imagination be considered science; it merely demonstrates a total lack of rigor attending so-called dendrochronology research . . . It would be a major step forward if dendrochronology could embrace the scientific method." - Letter to the Editor, New York Times, Rod A. Savidge, November 12, 2002
“Carbon dating is controversial for a couple of reasons. First of all, it's predicated upon a set of questionable assumptions. We have to assume, for example, that the rate of decay (that is, a 5,730 year half-life) has remained constant throughout the unobservable past. However, there is strong evidence which suggests that radioactive decay may have been greatly accelerated in the unobservable past. We must also assume that the ratio of C-12 to C-14 in the atmosphere has remained constant throughout the unobservable past (so we can know what the ratio was at the time of the specimen's death). And yet we know that "radiocarbon is forming 28-37% faster than it is decaying," which means it hasn't yet reached equilibrium, which means the ratio is higher today than it was in the unobservable past. We also know that the ratio decreased during the industrial revolution due to the dramatic increase of CO2 produced by factories. This man-made fluctuation wasn't a natural occurrence, but it demonstrates the fact that fluctuation is possible and that a period of natural upheaval upon the earth could greatly affect the ratio. Volcanoes spew out CO2 which could just as effectively decrease the ratio. Specimens which lived and died during a period of intense volcanism would appear older than they really are if they were dated using this technique. The ratio can further be affected by C-14 production rates in the atmosphere, which in turn is affected by the amount of cosmic rays penetrating the earth's atmosphere. The amount of cosmic rays penetrating the earth's atmosphere is itself affected by things like the earth's magnetic field which deflects cosmic rays. Precise measurements taken over the last 140 years have shown a steady decay in the strength of the earth's magnetic field. This means there's been a steady increase in radiocarbon production (which would increase the ratio).
And finally, this dating scheme is controversial because the dates derived are often wildly inconsistent. For example, "One part of Dima [a famous baby mammoth discovered in 1977] was 40,000 RCY [Radiocarbon Years], another was 26,000 RCY, and 'wood found immediately around the carcass' was 9,000-10,000 RCY." - In the Beginning, Dr Walt Brown, (2001, p. 176)
“Not even in five thousand years could carbon dating help archaeology. We can use other kinds of methods like geoarchaeology, which is very important, or DNA, or laser scanning, but carbon dating is useless. This science will never develop. In archaeology, we consider carbon dating results imaginary." - Dr Zahi Hawass, Science Magazine, 18 June 2010
Originally posted by riggs2099
Umm maybe humans were a little more advanced than once thought. Always the aliens..everything with you people is alien made.... Have a little more faith in your own species.
Originally posted by Scott Creighton
reply to post by Harte
Harte: Dendrochronology, among other methods, is used to calibrate C14 dates, which is why you'll find terms like the "carbon date" or the number of "carbon years" for artifacts that are dated this way.
SC: Dendrochronology, huh? Let's look at what the experts say:
Need I say more?
As for C14 dating, I think these quotes sum up its problems quite concisely::
“Carbon dating is controversial for a couple of reasons. First of all, it's predicated upon a set of questionable assumptions. We have to assume, for example, that the rate of decay (that is, a 5,730 year half-life) has remained constant throughout the unobservable past. However, there is strong evidence which suggests that radioactive decay may have been greatly accelerated in the unobservable past.
We must also assume that the ratio of C-12 to C-14 in the atmosphere has remained constant throughout the unobservable past (so we can know what the ratio was at the time of the specimen's death). And yet we know that "radiocarbon is forming 28-37% faster than it is decaying," which means it hasn't yet reached equilibrium, which means the ratio is higher today than it was in the unobservable past.
And this from the world's top Egyptologist, Dr Zahi Hawass:
“Not even in five thousand years could carbon dating help archaeology. We can use other kinds of methods like geoarchaeology, which is very important, or DNA, or laser scanning, but carbon dating is useless. This science will never develop. In archaeology, we consider carbon dating results imaginary." - Dr Zahi Hawass, Science Magazine, 18 June 2010
Harte: Dendrochronology, among other methods, is used to calibrate C14 dates, which is why you'll find terms like the "carbon date" or the number of "carbon years" for artifacts that are dated this way.
SC: Dendrochronology, huh? Let's look at what the experts say:
Need I say more?
Harte: Sure. But you apparently won't.
Every method has its detractors. Obviously, you will not appreciate the times when C14 and dendrochronological methods agree with each other within each ones' margin of error - which is the vast majority of times.
"The troubles of the radiocarbon dating method are undeniably deep and serious. Despite 35 years of technical refinement and better understanding, the underlying assumptions have been strongly challenged and warnings are out that radiocarbon may soon find itself in a crisis situation. Continuing use of the method depends on a 'fix-it-as-we-go' approach, allowing for contamination here, fractionation here, and calibration whenever possible. It should be no surprise, then, that fully half of the dates are rejected. The wonder is, surely, that the remaining half come to be accepted. … No matter how 'useful' it is, though, the radiocarbon method is still not capable of yielding accurate and reliable results. There are gross discrepancies, the chronology is uneven and relative, and the accepted dates are actually selected dates.” – Robert E. Lee, Radiocarbon, Ages in Error, (Anthropological Journal of Canada, Vol. 19, No.3, 1981, pp. 9, 29)
Harte: I suppose that this situation is merely coincidental in your mind, such as it is.
SC: As for C14 dating, I think these quotes sum up its problems quite concisely::
“Carbon dating is controversial for a couple of reasons. First of all, it's predicated upon a set of questionable assumptions. We have to assume, for example, that the rate of decay (that is, a 5,730 year half-life) has remained constant throughout the unobservable past. However, there is strong evidence which suggests that radioactive decay may have been greatly accelerated in the unobservable past.
Harte: This means that the further back you go, the less reliable C14 is. That's all it means.
“…when a radiocarbon date agrees with the expectations of the excavator it appears in the main text of the site report; if it is slightly discrepant it is relegated to a footnote; if it seriously conflicts it is left out altogether.” - Centuries of Darkness, Peter James, Dr I. J. Thorpe, Dr Nikos Kokkinos, Dr Robert Morkot and John Frankish, London: Jonathan Cape 1991
‘I’ve used carbon-14 dating… frankly, among archaeologists, carbon dating is a big joke. They send samples to the laboratories to be dated. If it comes back and agrees with the dates they’ve already decided from the style of pottery, they will say, “Carbon-14 dating of this sample confirms our conclusions.” But if it doesn’t agree, they just think the laboratory has got it wrong, and that’s the end of it. It’s only a showcase. Archaeologists never (let me emphasize this) NEVER date their finds by carbon-14. They only quote it [C14 date] if it agrees with their conclusions.’- David Down, Archaeologist
Of course, the assumption above that rates of decay have changed is a much shakier assumption that that they haven't. On top of that, why should they have been "greatly accelerated"? They could as easily have been "greatly deccelerated."
Harte: I'll tell you why. "Greatly accelerated" allows creationists to hold on to their pet "young Earth" ideas, while greatly deccelerated does the opposite.
Harte:Given that C14 can't possibly be used for any dates prior to about 55KYBP, and given that the vast majority of dates of interest are all in the first quartile of that range, this objection becomes meaningless.
We must also assume that the ratio of C-12 to C-14 in the atmosphere has remained constant throughout the unobservable past (so we can know what the ratio was at the time of the specimen's death). And yet we know that "radiocarbon is forming 28-37% faster than it is decaying," which means it hasn't yet reached equilibrium, which means the ratio is higher today than it was in the unobservable past.
Harte: In fact, it means no such thing. There are known instances of increase (and decrease) in C14 production in the atmosphere and these events are part of the calibration process. Are all such events known? Certainly not.
Harte: That's why there is a margin of error.
SC: And this from the world's top Egyptologist, Dr Zahi Hawass:
“Not even in five thousand years could carbon dating help archaeology. We can use other kinds of methods like geoarchaeology, which is very important, or DNA, or laser scanning, but carbon dating is useless. This science will never develop. In archaeology, we consider carbon dating results imaginary." - Dr Zahi Hawass, Science Magazine, 18 June 2010
Harte: One wonders why you quoted this without the context. Wait. On second thought, one actually does not wonder this at all. Hawass' objection was that the margin of error for the Egyptian time period is plus or minus 100 years. That is his only objection. He believes that things can be dated more accurately by other means.
Harte: Don't believe me? Doesn't anyone wonder why Scott didn't link to the article?
Here: Archaeologist comments on carbon dating - science magazine (reprint.)
Originally posted by Scott Creighton
SC: I have no interest in people’s religious beliefs here – only in the science. There are many brilliant scientists out there with many different religious ideas. Why condemn a brilliant scientists just because he happens to be a Jedi and believes in the Force? It’s the SCIENCE that matters here.
Originally posted by Scott Creighton
Harte:Given that C14 can't possibly be used for any dates prior to about 55KYBP, and given that the vast majority of dates of interest are all in the first quartile of that range, this objection becomes meaningless.
SC: Meaningless to you perhaps but not to the archaeologists and other scientists out in the field (see above quotes) who are left scratching their heads when the C14 lab tells them what is believed to be a piece of Middle Kingdom mummy-wrapping is in fact 14,000 years old.
Harte: That's odd, considering the "scientists" you admire enough to quote here are Biblical Archaeologists trying to fit the Egyptian timeline to their assumption for a certain period for the Exodus. Given the fact that there isn't a scintilla of evidence for the Exodus, or even the existence of Moses, I don't wonder that they mistrust the very dating method that causes their consternation.
Harte: Samples get contaminated.
Harte: Perhaps these folks are "scratching their heads" more at the way their faith-based timeline won't match up with what real science tells us.
Originally posted by Scott Creighton
SC: Or perhaps it is more likely that they are scratching their heads because the underlying science of C14-dating as well as its calibration techniques is highly suspect if not, indeed, fatally flawed. With so many conflicting results this points to the truth of the matter - that the science of C14 dating is highly questionable. And no amount of burying your head in the sand will ever change that simple truth or make it go away. The science is questionable. Period.
Harte: The entire field of quantum mechanics is a fabrication designed to make us think that humans in the past were smart enough to do their own work.
Harte: I would like to point out that your own "scientists" (one of whom is a writer, not a scientist at all) are complaining that C14 dating regarding the Egyptian time line puts the Egyptians too far into the past.
Harte: Given the C14 dates on the GP, this means it was built sometime around 2,000 BCE instead of 2600 BCE.
Harte: How does that mesh with your other ridiculous views, Scott?
Originally posted by aorAki
reply to post by Harte
Thank you for the voice of reason.