On: Ancient farmers spared us from glaciers but change...

[lacker]

He is a historian, not a scientist. I don't think there is a good way to analyze the past scientifically, because you can't run experiments.

[imh → lacker]

A huge number of scientists analyze the past scientifically. Between dinosaurs dying, creatures evolving, continents shifting, planets forming, climates changing, and the universe beginning, we analyze a ton of the past scientifically.

[abugheratwork → lacker]

Any dig for old stuff or old bones is an experiment, which will strengthen or weaken, at a minimum, the hypothesis that stuff is at or near that spot.