The fossil record as proof of evolution

I've been fascinated by vertebrate paleontology since my first visit to the American Museum of Natural History in NYC about 60 years ago. Since then I have collected many large boxes of original scientific papers on the discovery & analysis of fossilized creatures of interest to me, such as dinosaurs, pterosaurs, mosasaurs, plesiosaurs, etc. I have also assembled a growing library on the so-called Cambrian Explosion, when most forms of modern life suddenly appear in the fossil record around the world.What I have found is glaring proof that life originated in simple forms & evolved into sequences of many different, more complex forms. To make this as brief as possible, I discovered evolution when I discovered Archaeopteryx, an early bird with many reptilian characters like teeth & a bony tail. There have been many related forms discovered that serve to convince me that birds are descendents of early dinosaurian reptiles.While some may argue that the fossil record is nonsense because there are no reliable ways to date the rocks in which these fossils were found, I am a chemist by education & training & I know that a number of rock dating methods are both sound & reliable & that the Earth is several billion years old, not just some thousands.So that is my second proposed new topic. I hope again that it has not already been beaten to a premature death.

Thread copied here from the The fossil record as proof of evolution thread in the Proposed New Topics forum.

In science we don't do "proof". Proof is for alcohol and maths.In science we do evidence.

Sorry to dash your ego like this, Jack, but there were some guys named Darwin and Wallace that first discovered a theory of evolution. I'm afraid you're 170 years too late to make such a claim. Same for that bird thing. Yes, the history of evolution, of avians, of dating techniques, of a hundred different tangents to all the above, in deep detail, have been done many times here. But, rehashing the old discussions is fine. And fun.Some of the old folks have been here doing this on the internet for more than 100 years +-. Or so it seems.Take a look at some of the archives. There is a lot there.Also look at the recent threads. New perspectives are welcome, and insulted, and ripped to shreds. Great fun.Set a spell. Take your shoes off. Welcome, again, Jack.

Welcome to the fray, John Sullivan Indeed, evolution is the best explanation we have for the diversity of life on earth.Hard to believe that some people deny the evidence because of myths.Enjoy