I am often amused at what we claim to know, especially when our claims are based on finding nothing.
We may study an ancient civilization, and make many claims about them, but we might be very far off. A number of the artifacts that we dig up are from trash pits. Imagine someone digging up one of our landfills, and making claims about our culture. Sure, most would probably be right, but they might be confused as to what we used empty ink cartridges for. Similarly, they might conclude that we often held great banquets, based on the large number of cups and food wrappings they found. The point is, we throw garbage away. It no longer has a use, so we trash it. When digging up trash, you have to realize the object you find was considered useless. If you try to find a way to use the object you find, you've got it backwards.
There was a grand, extensive discussion in my home recently regarding the use for a particular item my father had received for free as a promotion. Aside from the obvious purpose of advertising (the company name and logo were clearly displayed), the practical use of the object escaped us. It became a topic of discussion with friends who came to visit, as it seemed no one could understand what the object was to be used for. Oh, there was a lot of conjecture, and several practical, but ridiculous, uses were suggested. I suppose the object will continue for a time at our house, without use except as a discussion piece. And when we tire of it, it will be thrown into the garbage, where some decades from now it will waylay some poor archeologist who again will try to discover for what on earth our generation used such an object.
It can be very difficult to discover the use of an object if that which the object was used for no longer exists. For example, imagine sometime in the far future, who is living in a city-size high-rise, with hydroponic plants and soil-less environment. One day, our illustratee discovers a spade from our century. He may have ever so many conclusions, but the plaque he puts in the museum will certainly be wrong, for he has no knowledge or comprehension of dirt, yards, and fields. How often does this happen to us? Centuries ago, there may have been purposes which have long since vanished. But objects have remained. We are trying our best to discover what they were used for, but there may be that all-important element missing.
But back to my original thought. We often find something missing, and make a claim from the fact that it is not there. I have heard this done by studying literature. A certain thing is not mentioned in a particular piece or sampling of literature, therefore it must not have existed in that time period. However, the exact opposite may be true. The thing may have been so common that the author did not even think to mention it! We don't tend to explain things that are so common everyone is familiar with them.
For example, imagine someone in the future is studying some travel journals from our time. He may read a great deal, and never once find mention of a speed limit. He may then conclude that speed limits had not yet been introduced in our time period. When, however, the truth is that they are so common, we fail to mention them.
Such an observation can be made about many historical claims. While I believe the best science and research is and should be used, there is always the possibility that we are wrong. It can be a great cause for amusement, but the tragedy is that the people who would know the joke are already dead.
You may have heard that the Eastern nations got into a small dispute recently. Chinese archaeologists on an excavation 100 feet deep found traces of copper. They announced to the world that the ancient Chinese had a telegraph system. Soon after, Korean archaeologists dug to a depth of 200 feet, and found traces of glass. Their news headlines declared that the ancient Koreans had an extensive fiber-optic telephone system. Somewhat incensed, a team of Japanese archeologist started digging. They went down 500 feet, but still found nothing. Their news proudly proclaimed that the ancient Japanese used cellphones.
We may study an ancient civilization, and make many claims about them, but we might be very far off. A number of the artifacts that we dig up are from trash pits. Imagine someone digging up one of our landfills, and making claims about our culture. Sure, most would probably be right, but they might be confused as to what we used empty ink cartridges for. Similarly, they might conclude that we often held great banquets, based on the large number of cups and food wrappings they found. The point is, we throw garbage away. It no longer has a use, so we trash it. When digging up trash, you have to realize the object you find was considered useless. If you try to find a way to use the object you find, you've got it backwards.
There was a grand, extensive discussion in my home recently regarding the use for a particular item my father had received for free as a promotion. Aside from the obvious purpose of advertising (the company name and logo were clearly displayed), the practical use of the object escaped us. It became a topic of discussion with friends who came to visit, as it seemed no one could understand what the object was to be used for. Oh, there was a lot of conjecture, and several practical, but ridiculous, uses were suggested. I suppose the object will continue for a time at our house, without use except as a discussion piece. And when we tire of it, it will be thrown into the garbage, where some decades from now it will waylay some poor archeologist who again will try to discover for what on earth our generation used such an object.
It can be very difficult to discover the use of an object if that which the object was used for no longer exists. For example, imagine sometime in the far future, who is living in a city-size high-rise, with hydroponic plants and soil-less environment. One day, our illustratee discovers a spade from our century. He may have ever so many conclusions, but the plaque he puts in the museum will certainly be wrong, for he has no knowledge or comprehension of dirt, yards, and fields. How often does this happen to us? Centuries ago, there may have been purposes which have long since vanished. But objects have remained. We are trying our best to discover what they were used for, but there may be that all-important element missing.
But back to my original thought. We often find something missing, and make a claim from the fact that it is not there. I have heard this done by studying literature. A certain thing is not mentioned in a particular piece or sampling of literature, therefore it must not have existed in that time period. However, the exact opposite may be true. The thing may have been so common that the author did not even think to mention it! We don't tend to explain things that are so common everyone is familiar with them.
For example, imagine someone in the future is studying some travel journals from our time. He may read a great deal, and never once find mention of a speed limit. He may then conclude that speed limits had not yet been introduced in our time period. When, however, the truth is that they are so common, we fail to mention them.
Such an observation can be made about many historical claims. While I believe the best science and research is and should be used, there is always the possibility that we are wrong. It can be a great cause for amusement, but the tragedy is that the people who would know the joke are already dead.
You may have heard that the Eastern nations got into a small dispute recently. Chinese archaeologists on an excavation 100 feet deep found traces of copper. They announced to the world that the ancient Chinese had a telegraph system. Soon after, Korean archaeologists dug to a depth of 200 feet, and found traces of glass. Their news headlines declared that the ancient Koreans had an extensive fiber-optic telephone system. Somewhat incensed, a team of Japanese archeologist started digging. They went down 500 feet, but still found nothing. Their news proudly proclaimed that the ancient Japanese used cellphones.
