Foolish Fossils

Dinosaur Adventure Land (DAL) asks, "Does it take millions of years for things to fossilize?".[1]  The implication is if there are examples of rapid "fossilization" then - illogically - all fossils formed rapidly.  If all fossils formed rapidly then the Biblical Flood becomes a possible explanation for the fossil record.  The deception is like claiming because Maurice Green ran 100 meters in less than 10 seconds, every person runs a 100 meters in less than ten seconds every time.

Fossils are general defined as traces of organic activity within a geologic structure.  The fossilization process involves chemical reactions.  These can be reactions as the host rock forms to preserve a "trace fossil" (eg, footprints) or around the empty hollow of a "mold fossil".  Impregnation or preservation by chemicals may also occur, for example, an insect in amber or saturation in mineralized water.  Other reactions may later take place where chemicals migrate from surrounding rock to fill a hollow or replace bone and shell to form a "cast fossil".  All these process happen at varying speeds depending on local conditions.  Like all chemical process the rate of reaction depends on the quantity of reactants and the immediate conditions of temperature, pressure, etc. On the issue of "does fossilization take millions of years" the answer is sometimes yes, sometimes no.  

However, there is a more interesting and damming aspect to Dinosaur Adventure Land's claim.  The real shock comes when we take a close look at the "fossils" used to validate their case.

Dinosaur Adventure Land (DAL) is a project of Kent Hovind who goes by the alias of Dr Dino because, supposedly, he has a lot of knowledge about dinosaurs and, we would assume, fossils.  DAL claims to operate a "Science Center" and a "Creation Museum" which would imply they think they possess some degree of knowledge of science.  They claim they have an "endless amount of fossil displays" [2] which implies they have some knowledge of geology in general and fossils in particular.  The following analysis will show DAL are severely lacking in basic science knowledge.

The following examples are the entirety of the argument presented by DAL on their web site [1].  All pictures are as presented by DAL; click a picture for full size version.  There is no additional arguments presented by DAL other than what has been included in the pictures themselves.  All materials have been copied with the stated public renouncement of copyright by Kent Hovind.

Dinosaur Adventure Land presents us with eleven photographs to illustrate their case.  We shall now take a closer look.

	Claim: "Fossilized Coconut?" Reality:  Lava bomb.  The confirming feature is the gas bubbles seen on the fresh rock especially on the right side.  Not a fossil.
	Claim: "Fossilized Octopus Arm" Reality:  Toe of ropy pahoehoe lava. Not a fossil.

Even viewed from a distance, we can conclude these two examples were never part of any living organism, hence, by definition can't be a fossil.  It boggles the mind how Dinosaur Adventure Land could be so desperate for examples they would acquire and display these pieces as anything other than geology samples.  

Claim: "Petrified Charcoal" Reality:  Charcoal briquettes.  Briquettes are manufactured from a carbon sources mixed with binding agents creating a quasi-petrified solid.

Claim: "Millions of years to mummify?" Reality:  Deceptive suggestion of time period for mummification.  Not a true fossil.

This example of basic mummification is deceptive from two perspectives.  It is not a geologic structure therefore is technically not a fossil.  And it is a dishonest to claim anyone ever suggested mummification takes "millions of years".

Claim: "Fossilized Crayon" Reality:  Very likely this is a fossil called a belemnite.

How very embarrassing for a "museum" and "science center" which claims to possess "endless fossils" couldn't identify a common fossil.  The belemnite was like a cuttlefish.  All that remains of them today is their internal bone structure which has an uncanny resemblance to a crayon or pen.

The ultimate irony is that DAL has on their web site a photograph of a belemnite from their fossil collection

Claim: "Fossilized Human Hand" Reality: A cretaceous era fossil that superficially appears to be human.  No claim of rapid fossilization.

This fossil is doing the rounds in the fringes of Creation Science circles.  For example, Carl Baugh (of Paluxy Man Tracks fame) has a web page on the subject.  The discover is Dr. Jamie Gutierrez (exactly what type of "doctor" is unknown).  The text claims the find was "found near an ichthyosaurus" in a Cretaceous period marine deposit.  So, what was in the oceans during the Cretaceous with hands which looked human?  A turtle (an extreme example to highlight the point).  Appearances can be deceiving.  

It is unclear how this specimen (whatever it is) has any relevance to "rapid" fossilization.

Claim:  None Reality:  A replica of the London Hammer

It would be really stretching the definition of a fossil to include a human artefact.  But if you want your own replica you can buy it from Kent Hovind for $25.  Though I've seen more impressive fake rocks on the bottom of aquariums.

The standard Young Earth claim about this "fossil" is that it is a pre-Flood human artefact.  It has been claimed this hammer is encased in 130 million year old rock.  Since humans weren't around 130 million years ago then all of geologic timescales are wrong.  The mainstream explanation is this hammer is simply a miner's hammer encased in a recently formed conglomerate (a known process).

Which brings us to an interesting paradox.  Is Dinosaur Adventure Land claiming this is a modern hammer which fossilized rapidly, thereby denying the supposed ancient origins of the object?  Or are they claiming this really is a pre-Flood artefact thereby making it a pointless example to illustrate rapid fossilization?

	Claim:  "'Petrified' Rose" Reality:  Paper coated with aragonite (calcium carbonate).
	Claim:  "Fossilized Teddy Bear" Reality:  Impregnation/coating with dissolved minerals. Even the plastic button became "fossilized".
	Claim: "Fossilized Pickle" Reality: Literally pickled in original jar over a period of decades.

These are three examples of permineralization.  The speed at which this occurs varies from place to place depending on local geologic conditions.  It would be deceptive to suggest anyone would claim this process can never occur quickly.

Claim: "Fossilized Acorns" Reality:  Unknown

This specimen is too vague.  There is no indication of any preservation nor is there any claim of what process supposedly caused this fossilization.

Conclusions

Dinosaur Adventure Land gave us eleven specimens to support their case.  Two of these were inorganic geologic structures that only superficially look like fossils.  Another specimen was only mummified and therefore had nothing to do with geology. Amazingly, they thought a belemnite fossil was a "fossilized crayon" even though they had another belemnite specimen in their own collection.  We had two "out of place" fossils which were neither out of place nor examples of rapid fossilization.  However, DAL almost saved themselves by giving three examples of permineralization but which nobody ever suggested couldn't happen quickly.  And finally, we have a vague photograph of some acorns with no accompanying details.

While fighting against a straw man argument Dinosaur Adventure Land showed the true depth of their "science".

Carl Marychurch 2005 updated June 2006

[1] Does it take millions of years for things to fossilize? http://www.dinosauradventureland.com/index.php?content=fossilization.php [December 2005]

[2] http://www.dinosauradventureland.com/index.php?content=about.html [December 2005]