Resurrecting a 'Prehistoric' Horse

Cave paintings and the concept of 'prehistoric' animals can be understood through a biblical lens.

Introduction

The term 'prehistoric' often invokes images of creatures that lived and died before the existence of mankind. However, from a biblical perspective, there is no era of prehistory. The true history of Earth began with the creation of humans as described in Genesis. In this article, we will explore the fascinating story of the Stroebel family from Oregon, USA, who have been breeding a herd of horses reminiscent of those seen in cave paintings.

Breeding a Tarpan

Lenette and Gordon Stroebel purchased a herd of 20 Tarpan-style horses in 1990, with the aim of breeding horses that resembled those depicted in cave paintings. The Tarpan was a wild horse species that became extinct in the late 1800s. The Stroebels continued a breeding project started by Harry Hegardt in the 1960s, who had been working to recreate a 'prehistoric' horse from wild American mustangs.

Unlike previous attempts to revive Tarpans through crossbreeding with Przewalski's horses (another wild horse species), the Stroebels believed that Tarpan genes were present in American wild mustangs. They captured mustangs displaying true Tarpan characteristics and selectively bred them to create horses that closely resembled Tarpans. This approach allowed them to recreate Tarpan look-alikes without crossbreeding with Przewalski's horses.

Artificial Selection and Genetic Limits

It is important to note that the Tarpan-style horses bred by the Stroebels are not true genetic re-creations of the extinct Tarpans. While they possess similar physical traits (phenotype), the original genetic information (genotype) of the Tarpan was lost due to extinction. The Stroebels achieved their results by recombining genetic information from other horse species. They carefully selected breeding mares and stallions that were likely to possess the desired Tarpan traits.

This breeding process involved nonrandom selection based on the breeders' knowledge of horse traits and specific goals. It is essential to understand that this artificial selection is distinct from the grand scale of evolution, which requires the generation of entirely new genetic information. To date, there are no known examples of such new genetic information arising in living organisms, rendering evolution an unsupported theory.

Confirming Biblical Truths

The biblical account in Genesis states that God created animals according to their kinds, and this includes horses. While there is considerable variation within the horse kind, it remains within the boundaries set by the Creator. Interestingly, some hybrids resulting from cross-breeding different horse species are not sterile, despite variations in chromosome numbers. For example, domestic horses with 64 chromosomes can produce fertile offspring with Przewalski's horses that have 66 chromosomes.

The Bible further affirms that pairs of all land-based creatures boarded Noah's Ark before the global Flood. Therefore, all currently living horse species, including those that have since gone extinct, are descendants of the two members of the horse kind present on the Ark. Fossils of horses likely formed post-Flood during local catastrophes rather than representing creatures from an ancient past.

Cave Art and Recent History

Cave paintings depicting horses and other animals were created after the dispersion at Babel, as humans migrated across continents. Some human populations sought shelter in caves and depicted the animals they encountered on cave walls. Many of these creatures, including the classic 'prehistoric' horse depicted in cave art, eventually became extinct.

The work of individuals like the Stroebels brings the era of cave paintings psychologically closer to the present day. It also raises questions about the accuracy of popular claims regarding the age of these creatures and paintings, which are often believed to date back tens of thousands of years.

Why This Matters

Understanding the true history of Earth, as outlined in the Bible, has important implications for how we interpret the world around us. Recognizing that there is no prehistoric era challenges the prevailing narrative that suggests humans evolved long after many types of creatures lived and died. By embracing a biblical perspective, we can gain a deeper understanding of our place in God's creation and appreciate the remarkable diversity within each created kind.

Think About It

1. How does the breeding project led by the Stroebels challenge the concept of prehistoric animals?
2. What are the limits of artificial selection when it comes to resurrecting extinct species?
3. How does the biblical account of Noah's Ark and the Flood support our understanding of horse species?
4. Why is it significant that cave paintings were likely created after the dispersion at Babel?
5. How does embracing a biblical perspective on history provide a different framework for interpreting the world around us?