Ancient Paleontologists

When presented with compelling dinosaur-like depictions found in multiple ancient civilizations, some evolutionists fall back on the theory that ancient peoples assembled dinosaur skeletons. While there is certainly evidence that fossilized bones were noted in ancient times, and in some cases removed as talismans or curiosities (See Mayor, Adrienne, The First Fossil Hunters, Princeton University Press, 2001.), there is no evidence that they assembled full skeletons or conducted paleontological studies of the great reptiles.

• If ancient civilizations were digging up dinosaur fossils, why do they almost never show skeletons? Why depict them interacting with people?
• We have many tools and artifacts from these civilizations. Where are their excavation tools? scaffolding, bone screws, & glues? Where are the records of skeletal assembly? the museum displays themselves?
• Even if ancient peoples were able to excavate and reassemble fossilized bones that they undoubtedly saw weathering out of the cliffs, they did not have the expertise in comparative anatomy, the experience of hundreds of scientists, thousands of publications and accumulated knowledge that we have today. Early attempts by western paleontologists were laughable. It has taken a couple of centuries of accumulated experience and even computer analysis for us to get the accurate models we have today. Yet some of their depictions are strikingly close to what we know today!
• If ancient peoples were drawing from assembled fossils, it would be expected that the specific dinosaur depicted would be found in close proximity to the ancient artist’s community. But this is not the case. Some are only found continents away.
• Many of the depictions contain fine details not preserved in the fossils, musculature, cartilage (like ears and nose), skin details, and dermal frills. Some of these details have been confirmed recently by preserved dinosaur skin fragments.

It takes more faith to believe in ancient paleontologists than to just draw the straightforward conclusion: that past civilizations knew and interacted with dinosaurs.