GR> Stephen Jones earlier today made the
GR>typical argument that was started, as near as I can tell, by Whitcomb and
GR>Morris. They write:
GR>How does one explain, for example, a dead fish lying on the bed
GR>of a lake for about two hundred years while the slowly
GR>accumulating sediments gradually cover it and then fossilize it?
GR>Where does this happen in modern lakes?"~John C. Whitcomb and
GR>Henry M. Morris, The Genesis Flood, (Grand Rapids: Baker Book
GR>House, 1961), p. 427
GR>To which I would respond examples of long term preservation of fish on lake
GR>bottoms has been documented.
GR> "Smith, G.R. and Elder (1985) have shown that the
GR>undisturbed fossil fish of the Clarkia Basin in Idaho were not
GR>buried for at least several months after death. Other instances
GR>of this phenomenon can be observed in both the fossil record and
GR>recent lake bottoms. For example, skeletons resting uncovered at
GR>several meters depth and less than 15o C on the bottom of Lake
GR>Michigan have been observed to remain intact for several weeks
GR>though the flesh became partially decayed."~R.L. Elder and G.R.
GR>Smith, "Fish Taphonomy and Environmental Inference in
GR>Paleolimnology", Paleogeography, Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology
GR>62(1988), p. 577-592, p. 583
The point being made by Whitcomb and Morris is that a mechanism
involving HUNDREDS of years of slowly accumulating deposits cannot
account for fossilization. Quick deposition is required.
Smith and Elder's time frame is in months or weeks. That cite doesn't
contradict the YECs. The fish were completely buried soon after their
death and prior to complete decay. This appears to agree with Whitcomb
and Morris' argument.
Whitcomb and Morris have asked "Where does this happen in modern
lakes?", or...
Where do we observe slow deposition over hundreds of years sufficiently
preserving fish carcasses for fossilization? The question remains to be
answered on the list.
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Paul Durham
Oakland, Maryland
NOTE NEW ADDRESS
pdd@garrett.ncin.com
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