Posted on 12/11/2012 7:22:44 AM PST by lbryce
While working on a highway-widening project in the middle of South America's Atacama Desert, Chilean workers unearthed an eerie scene that had no business being more than a kilometer away from the ocean: a mass fossil graveyard containing more than 75 ancient whales, reports MSNBC.
Finding whale bones in the middle of the desert is strange enough, but scientists were quick to notice a deeper mystery. The fossils ended up right next to one another some mere meters apart as if to suggest that the whales all died at once, possibly during some cataclysmic tragedy. What could have happened?
"That's the top question," said Mario Suarez, director of the Paleontological Museum in the nearby town of Caldera.
According to Nicholas Pyenson, curator of fossil marine mammals at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, the whales probably died between 2 million and 7 million years ago, during a time when the area would have been a "lagoon-like environment," much different than the desert landscape it is today. The real mystery, then, has less to do with how the whales got there, and more to do with why they died.
Could they have beached themselves after becoming disoriented in the shallows? Perhaps the lagoon had become separated from the sea by a landslide, earthquake or storm, trapping the whales within? Maybe there was something else about this lagoon that made it a whale trap. Right now, scientists aren't sure.
"There are many ways that whales could die, and we're still testing all those different hypotheses," said Pyenson. But, he added: "I think they died more or less at the same time."
Of the 75 whales that have been discovered so far, 20 of them represent perfectly intact skeletons, making the site one of the best preserved fossil beds from that time period along the west coast of South America. Most of the fossils are baleen whales that measure about 25 feet long, and one startling fossilized scene depicts two adult whales with a juvenile between them, a possible family group.
Researchers have also discovered fossils of other unusual creatures at the site, including a now-extinct dolphin that had two walrus-like tusks, an extinct aquatic sloth and an ancient seabird with a 17-foot wingspan. All in all, the site represents a remarkable snapshot of the ecosystem millions of years ago.
Although officials have asked that fossils that rest along the path of the widened Pan American Highway be moved out of the way, the Chilean government has declared the site a protected area.
"We have a unique opportunity to develop a great scientific project and make a great contribution to science," said Suarez. \
Those particular events were in New Zealand.
Searching for mass whale strandings will turn up hundreds of photos taken across the world.
It’s not exactly a rare phenomena, and requires no divine intervention.
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In boiling water? Fricasseed more likely.
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3/4ths of the earths’ surface covered by water. 75-80% of dry land covered with sedimentary rock. Fossil deposits testifying to massive sudden death. The facts are in accord with what is written in the Book of Genesis, and will remain so despite every effort of man to hide his face from God.
The article says ancient whales and it happened between 2 and 7 million yrs ago. You mention “the flood” which implies noah’s flood. Noah wasn’t around 2 million years ago.
>> “Just because we don’t know a mundane reason, doesn’t mean we have to clutch at fantastic ones.” <<
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Which is exactly what you’re doing!
Had they died as the photo suggests, there would not have been any carcasses to find later, they would have either rotted to jelly and dispersed across the sea bed, or been eaten by hungry predators, or both.
The boiling water of the Genesis judgement is the logical, scientificly supportable answer, since so much evidence is present to support it, in the form of universal mass deaths world wide.
But the scientific method is just not your thing.
bookmark
There is no objective evidence that the Earth is more than 6015 years old.
The millions and billions stuff is pure fantasy.
” The facts are in accord with what is written in the Book of Genesis, and will remain so despite every effort of man to hide his face from God.” <<
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Absolutely.
Flood no..., but the receding waters could trap creatures like this.
I don’t think we’re certain what all did take place during the flood wither. Was this when Pangaea broke up bringing our continents into their current configuration?
Oceanic life fossils are found at elevation around the planet.
... another!
...and another of the tusked creature...
... and a newer one!
Whale Steak
Flood, Yes!
Receding waters would leave a carcass for predators to scatter, as always happens in such situations.
The boiling flood is the only scientific answer.
(How’s This For Strange?) Mysterious Mirage of Mass Whale Graveyard Unearthed in the Chilean Desert
ping for later reading
I have the early edition of Brown.
thanks!
I think you’re more or less misunderstanding my point. Lets see.
Rising waters don’t kill a whale. So the flood doesn’t directly cause the death. It’s the receding waters that would cause them to be trapped, killed.
Sure the flood would have to happen first, but remember that I was addressing a point made by another poster, making lite of the idea increased water levels might result in the death of an aquatic creature.
It’s sort of like the idea that jumping off a building doesn’t kill you. It’s the sudden stop that kills you.
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