Jose Fly said:
So now you're left with a dilemma. You either acknowledge that the historical aspects of evolutionary biology are scientifically valid endeavors, or you take the position that archaeology and forensics are not valid fields of science.
Heehee.... You sure try hard. *
Once upon a time, in the city where I live, *a young nurse was killed on the street, one cold wintery day. It looked as if someone had tried to rape her, but at minus 30 degree, it was too cold, so there was no DNA, fingerprints or other physical evidence. The forensic detectives did however find some evidence. A car was abandoned nearby on the street stuck in snow. Detectives woke and started interviewing people in the vicinity. At a nearby hotel they found the owner of the car, a young guy spaced out on drugs.*
The police interogated the young man. He denied anything to do with the murder. The police confronted him with evidence of footprints of his that were headed in the direction of the murder. As the hours in the interview room wore on, David's story slightly changed a few times. He was charged...convicted and sentenced to life in prison.
David's mom didn't believe her boy did it. It was annoying how she kept the story alive for years fighting for his freedom. 20 years went by. Then... a break for the mom. New and improved DNA techniques became available. A lab was able to recover some DNA presumably from saliva on the murdered womans winter parka.*
The lab results came out....it was not David's DNA. *Police searched their database. They had a hit. The DNA belonged to a guy currently in prison serving time for rape. He happened to live one block away from where the murder ocurred 20 years earlier. There was signature evidence from the rape he comitted, to the murdered woman. He didn't confess but his alibies completely fell apart as the investigation continued. It still took time, but David was eventually released from prison...20+ years of his life was gone. The other guy was charged and convicted.
So... yes historical science is valid. But when you start with the wrong conclusion, then try shoehorn data to fit your belief... you might convict the wrong guy. Or, you might end up believing evolutionism is true.*