[genetic homophobe]

Actually, scientists do not use carbon dating for anything much past 10,000 years. Even then. many assumptions must be made. They date fossils by what they call “index fossils”. They determine how old a fossil is by how old the layer of rock is where the fossil was found. They determine how old the rock layer is by the index fossils found in that layer. Actually, this is called circular reasoning and they are totally guessing and outright making things up. On the other hand, they have very accurate methods for determining the effects humankind is having on global warming.

[ml/nj]

Most intelligent reply on the thread. Thanks.

ML/NJ

[Honcho Bongs]

That's close but not quite right. They determine the age of the igneous rock layers above and below the fossils using the half-life of the elements (uranium-238, for example) found within the igneous rocks.

I suppose if they are looking at newly found fossils in a layer surrounded by layers already known and identified, it would make sense to assume a certain age because of the adjacent layers of rock. Some layers of rock are well-known and have been identified all across the globe, like the layers of volcanic ash found coinciding with meteor strikes.

No circular reasoning involved.