Changes

To conceive of anything being "out of place" requires a concept of the "proper place" of any technological artifact. For most OOParts now known, that concept depends on [[geology|geological]] [[uniformitarianism]] and the related concept of [[deep time]], because these artifacts were recovered from a geologic stratum allegedly millions of years old. For others, the concept of "technological place" depends on the widely-held concept of the linear development of cultures. Thus, for example, the [[Egypt]]ians are not supposed to have developed any of the flight sciences, while the Saqqara Bird suggests that they, or else some other civilization that once held the land where Egypt now stands, did—centuries before [[Leonardo da Vinci]] would speculate on building a flying machine, let alone before [[Orville Wright|Orville]] and [[Wilbur Wright]] would demonstrate their own prototype.

To conceive of anything being "out of place" requires a concept of the "proper place" of any technological artifact. For most OOParts now known, that concept depends on [[geology|geological]] [[uniformitarianism]] and the related concept of [[deep time]], because these artifacts were recovered from a geologic stratum allegedly millions of years old. For others, the concept of "technological place" depends on the widely-held concept of the linear development of cultures. Thus, for example, the [[Egypt]]ians are not supposed to have developed any of the flight sciences, while the Saqqara Bird suggests that they, or else some other civilization that once held the land where Egypt now stands, did—centuries before [[Leonardo da Vinci]] would speculate on building a flying machine, let alone before [[Orville Wright|Orville]] and [[Wilbur Wright]] would demonstrate their own prototype.

OOParts that violate the linear-development paradigm should shock no one. The history of the world is replete with examples of cultures conquering other cultures but ''not'' preserving all of the technological knowledge that the conquered had developed or amassed. The fall of the [[Rome|Roman Empire]] is an obvious example.

OOParts that violate the linear-development paradigm is not unexpected, for the history of the world is replete with examples of cultures conquering other cultures while ''not'' preserving all of the technological knowledge that the conquered had developed or amassed. For example, the fall of the [[Ancient Rome|Roman Empire]].

The finding of OOParts in deep-time-associated geologic strata is another matter. Only three possibilities exist, and each possibility has its devoted champions:

The finding of OOParts in deep-time-associated geologic strata is another matter. Only three possibilities exist, and each possibility has its devoted champions:

# The artifacts involved are either forgeries or represent modern artifacts introduced into an archaeological or paleontological dig by accident.

# The artifacts involved are either forgeries or represent modern artifacts introduced into an archaeological or paleontological dig by accident.

# The artifacts were placed in their respective locations by [[extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrial scouts or soldiers]] in an earlier visit to, or occupation of, the [[Earth]].

# The artifacts were placed in their respective locations by [[extraterrestrial life|extraterrestrial scouts or soldiers]] in an earlier visit to, or occupation of, the [[Earth]].

# The artifacts are those of [[antediluvian civilization]].

# The artifacts are those of [[antediluvian civilization|antediluvian]] (that is, before the [[Great Flood]]) civilization.

The best argument against the forgery possibility is the sheer number of such artifacts. In addition, some of the arguments advanced to discredit some of these artifacts raise more questions than they pretend to answer.

The best argument against the forgery possibility is the sheer number of such artifacts. In addition, some of the arguments advanced to discredit some of these artifacts raise more questions than they pretend to answer.