Posted on 02/19/2005 7:36:30 AM PST by Woodworker
Panel says professor of human origins made up data, plagiarized works
A flamboyant anthropology professor, whose work had been cited as evidence Neanderthal man once lived in Northern Europe, has resigned after a German university panel ruled he fabricated data and plagiarized the works of his colleagues. Reiner Protsch von Zieten, a Frankfurt university panel ruled, lied about the age of human skulls, dating them tens of thousands of years old, even though they were much younger, reports Deutsche Welle. "The commission finds that Prof. Protsch has forged and manipulated scientific facts over the past 30 years," the university said of the widely recognized expert in carbon data in a prepared statement.
Protsch's work first came under suspicion last year during a routine investigation of German prehistoric remains by two other anthropologists. "We had decided to subject many of these finds to modern techniques to check their authenticity so we sent them to Oxford [University] for testing," one of the researchers told The Sunday Telegraph. "It was a routine examination and in no way an attempt to discredit Prof. von Zieten." In their report, they called Protsch's 30 years of work a "dating disaster."
Among their findings was an age of only 3,300 years for the female "Bischof-Speyer" skeleton, found with unusually good teeth in Northern Germany, that Protsch dated to 21,300 years. Another dating error was identified for a skull found near Paderborn, Germany, that Protsch dated at 27,400 years old. It was believed to be the oldest human remain found in the region until the Oxford investigations indicated it belonged to an elderly man who died in 1750. The Herne anthropological museum, which owned the Paderborn skull, did its own tests following the unsettling results. "We had the skull cut open and it still smelt," said the museum's director. "We are naturally very disappointed."
Protsch, known for his love of Cuban cigars and Porsches, did not comment on the commission's findings, but in January he told the Frankfurter Neue Presse, "This was a court of inquisition. They don't have a single piece of hard evidence against me." The fallout from Protsch's false dating of northern European bone finds is only beginning.
Chris Stringer, a Stone Age specialist and head of human origins at London's Natural History Museum, said: "What was considered a major piece of evidence showing that the Neanderthals once lived in northern Europe has fallen by the wayside. We are having to rewrite prehistory." "Anthropology now has to revise its picture of modern man between 40,000 and 10,000 B.C.," added Thomas Terberger, an archaeologist at the University of Greifswald. Frankfurt University's president, Rudolf Steinberg, apologized for the university's failure to curb Protsch's misconduct for decades. "A lot of people looked the other way," he said.
"Anthropology now has to revise its picture of modern man between 40,000 and 10,000 B.C.," added Thomas Terberger, an archaeologist at the University of Greifswald. Frankfurt University's president, Rudolf Steinberg, apologized for the university's failure to curb Protsch's misconduct for decades. "A lot of people looked the other way," he said.
Evidently, lying is not unique one group.
Shubi, you should thank the Good Lord that we are both at FR at the same time. I am going to make you a better Christian by teaching you humility, compassion and respect your fellow man.
Go boldly where no Creationist as gone before and be honest for once. Admit you never read my post or the article is linked to.
Adrienne Zihlman has girl parts.
Actually their habitat was pools in limestone rock
A few dozen creationist websites, every one is a foul cesspool of fraud, passionately supported by their fans, never denounced. Looks pretty equal to me.
Certainly. I don't like liars, period.
But I will add that I often see people characterized as liars when they are simply misinformed or have made a mistake. I have no patience for those who do that either and I'm sure it shows.
I wasn't referring to Hovind, I was referring to members who participate in these threads.
In a few weeks, tens of millions of Christians worldwide will go to church and celebrate the resurrection of the Creator. At the same time, Charles Darwin will continue his long dirt nap. I guess this time of year is really tough for you guys.
And at the very same time hundreds of millions of pagans will celebrate the return of Spring at the Easter Festivals
At the same time, Charles Darwin will continue his long dirt nap.
Yeah, he's dead, but he beat the odds and finished ahead in the Big Game
Cattle die, kindred die,
Every man is mortal:
But the good name never dies
Of one who has done well
I was talking about scientists very quickly correcting a fraudulent fossil, not dating techniques. That aside, dating techniques are very useful tools for biologists.
How many times do we have to repost answers to your questions?
The World History Of Male Love Library
Study by Denis Werner, claiming homosexuality developed as an adaptive trait
shared by the higher primates. Different constructions of homoerotic expression ...
http://www.androphile.org/preview/Library/Articles/
Homosexuality, Birth Order, and Evolution:
Towards a Equilibrium Reproductive Economics of Homosexuality
by Edward M. Miller, PhD
Department of Economics and Finance
University of New Orleans
New Orleans, La. 70148
emmef@uno.edu
Archives of Sexual Behavior No. 29 (February 2000) No. 5, 1-34
http://www.lrainc.com/swtaboo/stalkers/em_homosexuality.html
Abstract
The survival of a human predisposition for homosexuality can be explained by sexual orientation being a polygenetic trait that is influenced by a number of genes. During development these shift male brain development in the female direction. Inheritance of several such alleles produces homosexuality. Single aleles make for greater sensitivity, empathy, tendermindedness, and kindness. These traits make heterosexual carriers of the genes better fathers and more attractive mates. There is a balanced polymorphism in which the feminizing effect of these alleles in heterosexuals offsets the adverse effects (on reproductive success) of these alleles contribution to homosexuality. A similar effect probably occurs for genes that can produce lesbianism in females.
The whole system survives because it serves to provide a high degree of variability among the personalities of offspring, providing the genotype with diversification, and reducing competition among offspring for the same niches. An allele with a large effect can survive in these circumstances in males, but it is less likely to survive in females.
The birth order effect on homosexuality is probably a byproduct of a biological mechanism that shifts personalities more in the feminine direction in the later born sons, reducing the probability of these sons engaging in unproductive competition with each other.
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/jun2000/960498851.Ev.r.html
There is also evidence of homosexual activities playing a role in maintaining dominance heirarchies, reinforcing familiarity, and playing other roles in organizing and maintaining the societies of some of the more social animals. While the absolute evolutionary value of homosexuality varies greatly between species, it is certainly common enough to suggest a contribution to fitness, even if not directly measurable.
http://emporium.turnpike.net/C/cs/hscom.htm
Evolution and Communism
Another interesting facet of history is the connection between evolution and communism. With communism the struggle of "race" is replaced by the struggle of "class" as history is viewed as an evolutionary struggle.
Both Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels were evolutionists before they encountered Darwin's "The Origin of Species" - (Dec 12, 1859) Engels wrote to Marx: "Darwin who I am now reading, is splendid" (Morris 1989, 83 quoting Zirkle). Like Darwin, "Marx thought he had discovered the law of development. He saw history in stages, as the Darwinists saw geological strata and successive forms of life... In keeping with the feelings of the age, both Marx and Darwin made struggle the means of development" (Morris 1989, 83 quoting Borzin). "There was truth in Engel's eulogy on Marx: 'Just as Darwin had discovered the law of evolution in organic nature so Marx discovered the law of evolution in human history'" (Morris 1989, 83 quoting Himmelfarb).
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