Introduction.Darwin admitted that the fossil
evidence was one of the weakest aspect of the theory of evolution (see
also Dinosaurs, Flood,
Early man, Geological
column, Intermediates
andLiving fossils
pages). It should also be noted that even if there was ample fossil evidence of
organisms now extinct that appeared to be "links" between Species or
Genera alive today, this in itself does not prove evolution to be true. The data
could also be interpreted that such links were in fact organisms created that
were similar to other organisms but had now become extinct.
The noted palaeontologist Stephen Jay Gould of Harvard pointed out that:-
"The fossil record with its abrupt transitions
offers no support for gradual change ........ All
palaeontologists
know that the fossil record contains precious little in the way of intermediate
forms; transitions between major groups are characteristically abrupt"
(Gould, 1977).
Also Dr T S Kemp, Curator of Zoological collections, Oxford University said:-"
In
virtually all cases a new taxon appears for the first time in the fossil record
with most definitive features already present, and practically no known
stem-group forms." (Kemp, 1999).
Evolutionist David Raup, Curator
of Geology at Chicago's Field Museum of Natural History also said:-
"The
evidence we find in the geological record is not nearly as compatible with
Darwinian natural selection as we would like it to be ....We now have a quarter
of a million fossil species but the situation hasn't changed
much. The record of
evolution is surprisingly jerky and, ironically, we have even fewer examples of
evolutionary transition than in Darwin's
time ... so Darwin's problem has not been alleviated" (Raup, Field museum of
Natural History Bulletin).
However, in general, evolutionists do argue that there is at
least some fossil evidence for evolution and that many fossils have been discovered in the
last 20 years supporting say evolution of reptiles
to birds or land
mammals to whales and dolphins. Evolutionists can claim that creationists
only use the quotes that suit them and ignore others.
Numbers of fossils. There are an estimated 250 million fossils catalogued comprising 250,000
fossil species (Ankerberg, 1998a). Thus is would seem that it is not lack of
fossils that is at fault it not providing the Intermediate
links that should exist if evolution were true.
Cambrian explosion. Another problem with the fossil evidence is the sudden appearance of fossils
in Cambrian
rock and very few fossils in pre-Cambrian rock (Baker, 1996). This does
not point to gradual development of organisms over time, but could point to a worldwide
flood burying vast numbers of animals.
The prominent British evolutionist Richard
Dawkins speaking of the Cambrian
fauna, has made the following comment: "And
we find many of them already in an advanced state of evolution, the very first
time they appear. It is as though they were just planted there, without any
evolutionary history. Needless to say, this appearance of sudden planting has
delighted creationists". Richard Dawkins, The Blind Watchmaker
(New York: W.W. Norton Co., 1987).
Whilst the fossils evidence does not show Intermediate
forms (depending on the interpretation given), it does show evidence for stability within species
as can been seen when looking at Living
fossils.To top
The
Genesis Flood: Its Legacy Continues Play
audio (Special web
broadcast with Dr John
Whitcomb, author of the Genesis flood).
The
Flood and the Final Judgment, Part 1 Play
audio (Special web
broadcast with Dr John
Whitcomb).
The
Flood and the Final Judgment, Part 2 Play
audio (Special web
broadcast with Dr John
Whitcomb). To top
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Introduction.
Darwin admitted that the fossil
evidence was one of the weakest aspect of the theory of evolution (see
also Dinosaurs, Flood,
Early man, Geological
column, Intermediates
and Living fossils
pages). It should also be noted that even if there was ample fossil evidence of
organisms now extinct that appeared to be "links" between Species or
Genera alive today, this in itself does not prove evolution to be true. The data
could also be interpreted that such links were in fact organisms created that
were similar to other organisms but had now become extinct. 
The
Fossil Record: Intermediate Links
Archaeopteryx:
A Feathered Reptile?
The
Ape-Man: Missing Link
Play
audio