Science and Creationism 11. Archaeology © Colin Frayn,

© Colin Frayn, Dating Ancient Cultures BCE / CE instead of BC / AD –Means the same thing, but culture neutral Dating methods: –C-14 –Written records –Archaeological remains –Geological events

© Colin Frayn, History of Civilisation Paleolithic (2.6 Myr – 20,000 BCE) –Early stone age –The origin of simple tools, art, burial, villages Mesolithic (20,000 – 10,000 BCE) –Middle stone age –Complex tools, archery, boats Neolithic (10,000 – 3,300 BCE) –Late stone age –Pottery, agriculture, cities, trade Bronze age (3,300 – 1,300 BCE) Iron Age (1,300 BCE CE)

© Colin Frayn, Civilisation in 4004 BCE (The alleged year of creation) The Uruk period of Sumerian history The Chalcolithic (copper) age –Just before the Bronze age (~3300 BCE) –First appearance of copper artefacts –First stable towns and cities –Trade routes established of over 1,000 miles The City of Mehrgarh –Located in Pakistan, discovered in 1974 –Continuously occupied 7000 – 2600 BCE –Evidence of farming and herding before 5000 BCE –Evidence of pottery, ornaments, burial sites 5000 BCE: Development of writing 4000 BCE: Development of the wheel

© Colin Frayn, Civilisation in 2500 BCE (When the flood allegedly occurred) Egyptians had just finished building the pyramids of Giza –The Old Kingdom stood between 3 rd and 6 th dynasties (c – 2134 BCE) –No record in Egyptian texts of a flood –Unbroken line of Egyptian Pharaohs Stretches back to ~3150 BCE Bristlecone pine “Methuselah” is 200 years old –Germinated ~ 2,700 BCE –A global flood would have killed it Construction of Stonehenge begins

© Colin Frayn, The Oldest Farmers Farming arose before 10,000 BCE –The “Neolithic Revolution” –The first domestication of plants Domestication of crops can be traced using DNA studies to identify age of common ancestors Individual grains can be dated using Carbon BCE : Domestication of cattle & pigs 6000 BCE : Farming reaches the banks of the Nile 5000 BCE : Farming reached Western Europe