The main problem with archaeology and its discoveries is how they are dated. Because there is no real objective standard for everyone to use, the dating of different discoveries is left to personal opinion based on their archaeological experience.
There is a caveat to the dating of archaeological discoveries and we have talked about this before. The problem with the dating is one, there is no real starting point to mark in the sand or dirt where the calendar begins.
No one can say this is point zero and every inch of dirt is one year. It is always an estimate when dates are bandied about. The second problem is assumption. Everything is assumed to be virgin finds.
By that, it is meant that the archaeologists assume the artifact, etc., has lain untouched for 2,000 to 10,000 years. They also assume that their efforts in dating are very good even though the archaeologist cannot calibrate when dating aids found near the discovery were placed there.
This brings up the third assumption, it is assumed that the artifact was placed in the spot discovered when the archaeologist says it was placed. Then finally, it is assumed that no one came before them and changed everything.
This is a situation that makes using any scientific method impossible. Any scientific calculations made about a discovery or excavation site are wrong because of all the unknown factors involved.
With this said we will list different discoveries that are said to be ancient but in reality, they are not as old as archaeologists claim. The first list comes from this website.
#1.Theopetra Cave- about 135,000 years ago (c.133,000 BC) Thessaly, Greece, 1987
#2. Cave of El Castillo- dated to about 40,000 years ago or 38,000 BC Caves of Monte Castillo, Puento Viesgo, Cantabria, Spain 1903
#3. Chauvet Cave- dated to about 36,000 BC and found in Ardeche, France, 1994
#4. Murujuga- dated to about 28,000 BC, Dampier Archipelago, Western Australia, no discovery date as it has been in constant use by the Aborigines of Australia.
#5. Cave of Altamira- dated to about 25,000 BC,Santillana del Mar, Cantabria, Spain, discovered 1868, excavated in 1879
#6. Lascaux Cave- dates to about 15,000 BC and found in Montignac, France, in 1940
#7. Tell Qaramel- dates to about 11,000 BC in Aleppo Governate, Syria, discovered 1970, excavation started 1999
#8. Göbekli Tepe- dates to almost 10,000 BC and was found in Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey, 1963
#9. Tell es-Sultan (Jericho)- dates roughly to 9000 BC and was found in 1868 in Jericho, West Bank
This is a title, 15 of the Oldest Artifacts Ever Discovered, of another article that has a list of their 15 oldest archaeological discoveries on it. There are some duplications with the above list but there are also some unique finds.
We won’t list them all here, but #2 could be anything including just a practice piece or by someone who has no sculpting talent. It is doubtful that it is a piece meant to honor a goddess.
Then there is this article, 24 Amazing Archaeological Discoveries. We like the discoveries on this list as they represent something real and in a realistic time frame.
The three we do not agree with being placed on this list are Olduvai Gorge. Lucy, & Cave of Altamira. There is just too much reading into these discoveries making the conclusions about them unrealistic and unverifiable.
The presence of those three does not diminish or take anything away from the other discoveries on that list. Some are very fascinating.
theoarch 