A pivotal aspect of science is testable ideas. In order to do this, it is necessary for ideas to be clearly articulated. So, I figured I would make some predictions (based on my knowledge of the bible and science) that could verify an old-earth creation model if enough can be proven.
1. We will discover upper paleolithic tools and evidence of symbolism in the Persian Gulf region dated to between 75,000 bp and 50,000 bp
As I, and many fellow old-earth creationists, believe the garden of Eden was located in the present day Persian Gulf, I suspect that if sufficient excavation is done we will find evidence of pre-flood people.
The clear signs of this would be:
A. Complex compound tools, likely of upper paleolithic quality
B. Fully anatomically modern human remains
C. Rock art and clear jewelry
D. Misc. advanced behaviors
The most likely spot would be the plains of southern Iraq. Underwater archaeology is difficult, so I don't suspect it will turn up anything in the near future. But the shores of the modern Persian Gulf and southern Iraq are prime candidates to turn up remains of early human society.
2. Evidence for complex behaviors among hominids won't hold up
Much like previous finds claiming to support complex behaviors among hominids have not held up to scrutiny, I predict future finds will not either. And I predict that more anatomical, developmental, and behavioral differences will be found between various hominid species and humans.
3. Animal Domestication, Agriculture, Metalworking, And Masonry will be pushed back to 50k+ BP
Currently the oldest evidence for metalworking we have goes back to ~11,000 BP. The oldest evidence for stone masonry goes back ~20,000 BP. The oldest evidence for animal domestication goes back ~30,000 BP. The oldest evidence for small-scale agriculture also goes back ~30,000 BP.
Genesis 4 makes it clear that pre-flood peoples were engaged in small-scale agriculture, animal domestication, and metalworking (both bronze and iron!).
While Genesis 11 says the builders of the Tower of Babel (prior to the scattering of humanity before 50,000 BP) used stone bricks in its design.
So, these behaviors must date back earlier than 50,000 BP. And agriculture must date back to the first humans, considering Cain harvested fruit for his offering in Genesis 4.
So, I predict future discoveries will push these behaviors back earlier, perhaps to further than 50,000 BP.
4. Evidence of the Genesis flood will be found
We have evidence for several great floods that occurred in North America & Siberia ~10,000 BP. I think if enough work is done in the area, we will eventually uncover evidence of the Genesis 6-9 flood inundating the whole Persian Gulf region between 50,000 & 70,000 BP.
5. We will find earlier evidence of more complex plant life
As I said in my Genesis 1 study, we do have some evidence that plants existed well prior to the first animals. Some fossils for land plants date back 1.1 billion BP. But the evidence is very scarce because plants don't fossilize well.
I suspect we will soon uncover more evidence of complex plants, and will push back the dates for certain groups of plants much further.
6. More evidence for a cloud-cover on pre-Cambrian earth will be found
We already have some limited evidence for this based on water vapor, methane, and sulfur dioxide levels. But it would be nice to get confirmation, as this is pivotal to understanding the fourth day of Genesis.
7. More evidence for "explosions" of life
We have the Cambrian explosion, where representatives of most modern animal phyla appear all at once. There is also a large explosion that takes place after the KT extinction event ~66 million years ago.
These run counter to Darwinian evolution, and alternative models for naturalistic evolution lack viable mechanisms. But in a creationist perspective, they make perfect sense. God is creating a variety of new species all at once.
Said explosions are some of the best support for the design hypothesis from the fossil record. And they continue to pile up. And I predict they will continue throughout the next several years.
Thanks for reading!
1. We will discover upper paleolithic tools and evidence of symbolism in the Persian Gulf region dated to between 75,000 bp and 50,000 bp
As I, and many fellow old-earth creationists, believe the garden of Eden was located in the present day Persian Gulf, I suspect that if sufficient excavation is done we will find evidence of pre-flood people.
The clear signs of this would be:
A. Complex compound tools, likely of upper paleolithic quality
B. Fully anatomically modern human remains
C. Rock art and clear jewelry
D. Misc. advanced behaviors
The most likely spot would be the plains of southern Iraq. Underwater archaeology is difficult, so I don't suspect it will turn up anything in the near future. But the shores of the modern Persian Gulf and southern Iraq are prime candidates to turn up remains of early human society.
2. Evidence for complex behaviors among hominids won't hold up
Much like previous finds claiming to support complex behaviors among hominids have not held up to scrutiny, I predict future finds will not either. And I predict that more anatomical, developmental, and behavioral differences will be found between various hominid species and humans.
3. Animal Domestication, Agriculture, Metalworking, And Masonry will be pushed back to 50k+ BP
Currently the oldest evidence for metalworking we have goes back to ~11,000 BP. The oldest evidence for stone masonry goes back ~20,000 BP. The oldest evidence for animal domestication goes back ~30,000 BP. The oldest evidence for small-scale agriculture also goes back ~30,000 BP.
Genesis 4 makes it clear that pre-flood peoples were engaged in small-scale agriculture, animal domestication, and metalworking (both bronze and iron!).
While Genesis 11 says the builders of the Tower of Babel (prior to the scattering of humanity before 50,000 BP) used stone bricks in its design.
So, these behaviors must date back earlier than 50,000 BP. And agriculture must date back to the first humans, considering Cain harvested fruit for his offering in Genesis 4.
So, I predict future discoveries will push these behaviors back earlier, perhaps to further than 50,000 BP.
4. Evidence of the Genesis flood will be found
We have evidence for several great floods that occurred in North America & Siberia ~10,000 BP. I think if enough work is done in the area, we will eventually uncover evidence of the Genesis 6-9 flood inundating the whole Persian Gulf region between 50,000 & 70,000 BP.
5. We will find earlier evidence of more complex plant life
As I said in my Genesis 1 study, we do have some evidence that plants existed well prior to the first animals. Some fossils for land plants date back 1.1 billion BP. But the evidence is very scarce because plants don't fossilize well.
I suspect we will soon uncover more evidence of complex plants, and will push back the dates for certain groups of plants much further.
6. More evidence for a cloud-cover on pre-Cambrian earth will be found
We already have some limited evidence for this based on water vapor, methane, and sulfur dioxide levels. But it would be nice to get confirmation, as this is pivotal to understanding the fourth day of Genesis.
7. More evidence for "explosions" of life
We have the Cambrian explosion, where representatives of most modern animal phyla appear all at once. There is also a large explosion that takes place after the KT extinction event ~66 million years ago.
These run counter to Darwinian evolution, and alternative models for naturalistic evolution lack viable mechanisms. But in a creationist perspective, they make perfect sense. God is creating a variety of new species all at once.
Said explosions are some of the best support for the design hypothesis from the fossil record. And they continue to pile up. And I predict they will continue throughout the next several years.
Thanks for reading!