Tag Archives: history
Door 3: Why Christmas love letters led to the discovery of the earliest flowers on Earth
British Science Festival 2014: Operation Stonehenge
One of our nominated 100geosites took centre stage yesterday at the British Science Festival, as Professor Vincent Gaffney and colleagues unveiled the latest from the Stonehenge Hidden Landscapes Project, led by the University of Birmingham in conjunction with the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology. Continue reading
100 Great Geosites nomination: White Scar Cave
A 100 Great Geosites nomination from Idil Hassan White Scar Cave is famous as the longest cave in the UK, and is full of interesting features that make you wonder how this magnificent structure became what it is today. So how did these caves come to be the outstanding spectacle they are? Continue reading
A New Epoch?
Some of the names given to periods of geological time are familiar. The Jurassic, for example, immediately brings to mind dinosaurs and a certain film favourite of ours (let’s not quibble about how few of those dinosaurs were actually FROM the Jurassic..) The Cretaceous says dinosaurs, chalk and lots of extinctions. The Pleistocene, wolly mammoths … Continue reading
100 Great Geosites nomination: Afon Cwm Llan and the Watkin Path, Snowdon
A 100 Great Geosites nomination from the Geological Society’s President, David Shilston. I discovered the hidden and diverse delights of this valley and its route up/down Snowdon only a few years ago. It has so many interesting features – geology, history, politics and ecology. Continue reading
Snakes on a chain: sea level change and evolution on the Galapagos
“These islands appear paradises for the whole family of Reptiles. Besides three kinds of Turtles, the Tortoise is so abundant that [a] single Ship’s company here caught 500-800 in a short time. “The black Lava rocks on the beach are frequented by large (2-3 ft.) most disgusting, clumsy Lizards. They are as black as the … Continue reading
100 Great Geosites nomination: The Arnaboll Thrust
Our first #100geosite nomination blog comes from Rob Butler, Professor of Tectonics at the University of Aberdeen, and Chair of our Geoconservation Committee. “When a geologist finds…gneiss overlying gently inclined sheets of fossiliferous quartzite, shale and limestone, he may be excused if he begins to wonder whether he himself is not really standing on his … Continue reading
100 Great Geosites
The UK and Ireland features some of the most diverse and beautiful geology in the world, spanning most of geological time, from the oldest Pre-Cambrian rocks to the youngest Quarternary sediments. As part of Earth Science Week 2014, The Geological Society and partner organisations are celebrating this unique geo-heritage by launching a list of 100 … Continue reading
The Great Sheffield Flood of 1864
A guest post from GSL Education Officer Judi Lakin Flooding due to unusually high rainfall has dominated UK news in recent months. But, of course, there have been countless other flooding events throughout history. This week, memorial services, guided walks and exhibitions are being held to mark the 150th anniversary of one in particular – … Continue reading
The Geological Society Blog 