Quasimodo wrote:I'm easy. The day some lucky archeologist finds the remnants of a massive battle with many thousands of human bones, interspersed with swords, helmets, chariot wheels and horse bones in the Western Hemisphere, I'm calling the missionaries.
That wouldn't just be evidence, that would be proof. So far, we have nothing. Not even one steel sword. Zilch, Nada.
Quasi,
It would still be nothing more than evidence...if it would even be acknowledged as such.
Waiting for such things isn't the wisest approach. It took about 2,000 years to find one of the most famous/pivotal battle sites in history - the battle of Teutoburg Forest. And that 2,000-year gap is only because (i) it was in a boggy remote area (ii) where numerous metal objects were abandoned and (iii) just happened to have survived due to the chemical nature of the bog (iv) the language of the area is still generally understood by some, and (v) the map of Europe has been passed down from generation to generation largely intact. Were it not for those five realities, the site of the battle of Teutoburg Forest may have never been found in our generation, even though Tacitus and others described the event almost two thousand years ago.
For example, unless I've overlooked something, after 2500 years, all that the proposed site for the Battle of Marathon has produced were a surprisingly small number of artifacts.
Again, it was claimed in the 1800's by an apparently-handwritten label that these two spears came from a tumulus in what is believed to be the plain of Marathon.What makes the two spearheads stand out is that despite an interest in arms and armour from the famous battlefield of Marathon among 19th century travellers and collectors, these are the only weapons of this type known today that are said to come from ‘a tumulus at Marathon’ and thus associated with the battle. Their rarity makes the following discussion all the more interesting, given that in 2010, when this research on the spearheads was conducted, the 2500th anniversary of the famous battle was celebrated.
Also, a single helmet, which may or may not have been from that battle, was also discovered in the 1800's, over 2000, years after the battle. Is the helmet from that specific battle? Who knows.
A burial mound with ca. 200 dead is there, which is presumed by most to be Greek warriors from that battle.
So two spearheads, a helmet, and a burial mound...are all we have from one of the most famous battles in world history. And even though people knew in general where to search, it took over 2000 years to find the artefacts. Keep in mind that 6,000 Persians were also said to have perished at that battle....of which we have zero concrete evidence....after 2500 years of searching.
Wait all you wish...but the level of evidence you *say* you want may not materialize in your lifetime...although there is quite a bit of evidence today. The main problem with waiting for such evidence before believing is that the victor on most ancient/medieval battlefields wouldn't have left swords/shields/spears/arrows/armor for their enemies to scoop up later, but would have instead scooped up those things themselves...leaving no trace for future generations to find.
I suggest instead a humble, prayerful reading of the Book of Mormon.
Otherwise, if you don't learn to follow the Spirit of God in this generation, but instead sit back on your heels waiting for *evidence*, what will you and your descendants do when another revelation rolls forth? Wait another 2,000 years? And so on?
