Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Fossil Hunter Part 1
[The following was written in 2000 and first published in Alpha-Omega #92
(May-June 2000) as a part of my Ensign Report #90. It discusses my
interest in fossils and Creation Science.]
Back in the mid to late 1960s I came across a book called The Genesis Flood
written by theologian John C. Whitcomb and scientist Henry M. Morris. The
premise of this book was that many (if not most) of the geological features
on the surface of the earth were a result of the worldwide flood described
in the book of Genesis. This book is credited with sparking the revival of
Creationist thought in the late 20th Century. On of the fascinating sections
of this book had to do with “misplaced fossils.” That is fossils that are out
of their supposed normal sequence in the rock strata. One of these misplaced
fossils were what looks like human footprints in the same rock strata as
dinosaur footprints in the riverbed of the Paluxy River near Glen Rose,
Texas (southwest of Fort Worth).
In the early 1970s while I was working in audiovisual department of
Campus Crusade in San Bernardino we obtained a copy of a motion picture
called “Footprints in Stone” produced by Films for Christ. This film documented
the excavations that had been conducted in the late 1960s at Glen Rose.
The film was quite convincing in showing what really looked like human
footprints with dinosaur footprints. How could this be! According to the
orthodox scientific view man came on the scene maybe a million years ago
and the dinosaurs supposed died out 65 million years ago.
By 1980 John Morris (who is now the president of the Institute for Creation Research)
wrote a book called “Tracing Those Incredible Dinosaurs and the People Who Knew Them.”
John had conducted a long term study of the Paluxy site and fossils and believed the
evidence was compelling to put his findings in book form.
In 1982, Dr. Carl Baugh began his own excavations at the Paluxy site which continue
today. He has built a Creation Evidences Museum nearby which houses exhibits of the
tracks and related items.
In the mid-1986s one researcher found several of the tracks that had reptile-like
toe stains that seemed to indicate that they were actually dinosaur tracks that
just looked human. These were found only in a few of the many dozens that
have been excavated over the years. This caused the greater creationist community
to back off on using the Paluxy tracts as positive evidence for their position.
Dr. John Morris’ book was pulled from circulation as was the film Footprints in Stone.
However Dr. Baugh has continued to excavate at the site and is turning up more
evidence that the footprints as genuinely human. There are several newer books
that present this evidence.
This past year my paleo-friend, Terry Beh and I were looking to
be involved in another dinosaur dig for the summer. I came across Dr. Baugh’s
website and noticed the Creation Evidences Museum was sponsoring a dig at
the Paluxy River. Having never been to Glen Rose I was rather excited about the
possibility of being on a Creationist dig. Terry was somewhat skeptical because
he was of the opinion that the evidence had been discredited. I felt that the
evidence was still sound but i wanted to see for myself.
Terry and I eventually went to the dig for three days around the Fourth of July
weekend. Terry’s initial skepticism melted away by what he saw the evidence
and as we participated in the hard, back breaking work of the dig.
While at the dig Terry and I met Mr. Joe Taylor who is a fossil reconstructionist
and museum owner and director. Joe Taylor was there as an expert helping
to supervise the dig. He is as the man behind the Mt. Blanco Independent
Fossil Excavation Team. He had a team there that was working on a book
in a nearby motel (had several computers set up). The book has now been
published and is called Fossil Facts and Fantasies. The book is a potpourri
of interested stories and photos about Joe’s adventures in Creationary paleontology.
(May-June 2000) as a part of my Ensign Report #90. It discusses my
interest in fossils and Creation Science.]
Back in the mid to late 1960s I came across a book called The Genesis Flood
written by theologian John C. Whitcomb and scientist Henry M. Morris. The
premise of this book was that many (if not most) of the geological features
on the surface of the earth were a result of the worldwide flood described
in the book of Genesis. This book is credited with sparking the revival of
Creationist thought in the late 20th Century. On of the fascinating sections
of this book had to do with “misplaced fossils.” That is fossils that are out
of their supposed normal sequence in the rock strata. One of these misplaced
fossils were what looks like human footprints in the same rock strata as
dinosaur footprints in the riverbed of the Paluxy River near Glen Rose,
Texas (southwest of Fort Worth).
In the early 1970s while I was working in audiovisual department of
Campus Crusade in San Bernardino we obtained a copy of a motion picture
called “Footprints in Stone” produced by Films for Christ. This film documented
the excavations that had been conducted in the late 1960s at Glen Rose.
The film was quite convincing in showing what really looked like human
footprints with dinosaur footprints. How could this be! According to the
orthodox scientific view man came on the scene maybe a million years ago
and the dinosaurs supposed died out 65 million years ago.
By 1980 John Morris (who is now the president of the Institute for Creation Research)
wrote a book called “Tracing Those Incredible Dinosaurs and the People Who Knew Them.”
John had conducted a long term study of the Paluxy site and fossils and believed the
evidence was compelling to put his findings in book form.
In 1982, Dr. Carl Baugh began his own excavations at the Paluxy site which continue
today. He has built a Creation Evidences Museum nearby which houses exhibits of the
tracks and related items.
In the mid-1986s one researcher found several of the tracks that had reptile-like
toe stains that seemed to indicate that they were actually dinosaur tracks that
just looked human. These were found only in a few of the many dozens that
have been excavated over the years. This caused the greater creationist community
to back off on using the Paluxy tracts as positive evidence for their position.
Dr. John Morris’ book was pulled from circulation as was the film Footprints in Stone.
However Dr. Baugh has continued to excavate at the site and is turning up more
evidence that the footprints as genuinely human. There are several newer books
that present this evidence.
This past year my paleo-friend, Terry Beh and I were looking to
be involved in another dinosaur dig for the summer. I came across Dr. Baugh’s
website and noticed the Creation Evidences Museum was sponsoring a dig at
the Paluxy River. Having never been to Glen Rose I was rather excited about the
possibility of being on a Creationist dig. Terry was somewhat skeptical because
he was of the opinion that the evidence had been discredited. I felt that the
evidence was still sound but i wanted to see for myself.
Terry and I eventually went to the dig for three days around the Fourth of July
weekend. Terry’s initial skepticism melted away by what he saw the evidence
and as we participated in the hard, back breaking work of the dig.
While at the dig Terry and I met Mr. Joe Taylor who is a fossil reconstructionist
and museum owner and director. Joe Taylor was there as an expert helping
to supervise the dig. He is as the man behind the Mt. Blanco Independent
Fossil Excavation Team. He had a team there that was working on a book
in a nearby motel (had several computers set up). The book has now been
published and is called Fossil Facts and Fantasies. The book is a potpourri
of interested stories and photos about Joe’s adventures in Creationary paleontology.
Labels: Carl Baugh, Creation Evidences Museum, Footprints in Stone, Glen Rose, Joe Taylor, John Morris, Paluxy River, Texas
# posted by Dino Don @ 11:01 AM 
