Scientific Progress

[R. Sale]

The big problem here is that compatible does not mean correct (at all!).

Such a blanket statement would seem to imply that investigations found to be compatible are guaranteed to be flawed and inaccurate.

If two investigations are perceived as being reasonably accurate, [say the cosmic investigation that dates BNF Fr. 565 as c. 1410, and the sleeve investigation dated to the 1420s, and both of these within the C-14 range], then this seems (IMHO) to lend a bit of extra credence to both investigations, as compared with the situation where all investigations are mutually *incompatible*.

Compatibility may not guarantee accuracy. Investigations would hopefully be validated as much as possible beforehand. Then, if two investigations are compatible, look for a third investigation that fits with the prior results. At some point the question must arise. How can all of these investigations fit together, based on historical evidence, and still be dismissed as invalid?