Medieval European churches have a tradition that we in the U.S. would consider unusual. Prominent persons are buried beneath the floor of the church. Frequently denoting their burial place is a stone or brass plaque. You cannot help but walk on some of them.

Within the ancient Carlisle Cathedral in England is such a burial place and plaque. Bishop Richard Bell died in 1496 A.D. and is buried in the cathedral. Construction began on this impressive medieval building in 1122 A.D.

But what is interesting about the cathedral is not the building, but what is found on the burial plaque of Bishop Bell. There are dinosaurs illustrated on the brass plaque. Because of the wear of hundreds of years of foot traffic, the added drawing clarifies the plaque illustration.

Courtesy of the Institute for Creation Research

The animals have been identified as sauropods, and the one on the left appears to be a Shunosauros with a spiked tail. This feature of a spiked tail on some dinosaurs was not discovered by modern fossil experts until about 1989!

This drawing raises all kinds of questions. How did the artists of five-hundred years ago know about dinosaurs? Had they seen one? Is a dinosaur the basis of the story of Saint George defeating the dragon?

One thing seems to be clear. Dinosaurs have not been extinct for as long as we are told. This is confirmed by the discovery of dinosaur bones from which DNA has been extracted. In my personal opinion, it is irrational to think that DNA can survive sixty-eight million years. This is what scientists claimed in 1968. Millions, or billions, of years is the standard explanation for anything that contradicts the Word of God.

It takes more faith to believe that we evolved over millions or billions of years, than to believe in the one, true living God. I am so thankful to the Lord for His plan of salvation, and for including me in that plan. Praise His name for ever and ever!