Radiocarbon dating and conspiracy theories
- đ¤ Speaker: Maarten Blaauw, Queen's University Belfast
- đ Date & Time: Wednesday 15 May 2024, 17:30 - 19:00
- đ Venue: Large Lecture Theatre, Department of Geography, Downing Site
Abstract
A range of conspiracy theories involving radiocarbon dating have become popular on the Internet over the past years. Examples include the radiocarbon dating of dinosaur fossils that supposedly reveal problems with a geologically old Earth, claims that entire centuries of European history have been made up, and archaeological sites that supposedly provide evidence for a long-lost Younger Dryas civilization that is being hidden or denied by “Big Archaeology”. We will look at what these conspiracy theories claim, followed by more down-to-Earth explanations. We then discuss the dangers of such conspiracy theories, and provide some pointers for dealing with them.
Series This talk is part of the Quaternary Discussion Group (QDG) series.
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Maarten Blaauw, Queen's University Belfast
Wednesday 15 May 2024, 17:30-19:00