Fallacy of
the Negative Proof
One of the curious features of archaeological theory is
the use of non-evidence as
supporting data. Such non-evidences are used as though it had the status of true data, even though it is what does
not exist.
An
attempt to sustain a factual proposition merely by negative evidence.
Ex.
Ark has not been found on Ararat therefore Cudi is where it might be.
Ex.
Ed Davis did not take a photo so he must have not seen the ark.
Ex. Miller and Dever used non-evidence of the
archaeological excavations at
et-Tell (Ai) to conclude that the biblical story is erroneous. Kenyon does the same thing at Jericho.
This
says more about the archaeological interpretation than it does about the biblical story .
To
admit that one has found nothing is only proof that one has found nothing.
03/10/2009
ArcImaging - The Search For Noah's Ark