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Maps, Meteorites, Mary Anning & the Missing Link

GSL Library Courtyard LatesOn Friday 15 July, as part of the Burlington House Courtyard Lates programme, the Library hosted a geological salon attended by over 70 members of the public.

The evening began with pre-lecture lightening talks: Duncan Hawley and John Henry discussed how the first geological maps of Britain were created, Tom Sharpe examined the identification of the Jurassic marine reptiles discovered by Mary Anning and David Bate revealed the audacious Piltdown fraud which fooled the leading scientists of the day into believing that Britain was the cradle of modern humanity.

The audience then moved to the Upper Library where Professor Paul Henderson presented his lecture Meteorites - "Stones said to have fallen from the clouds” , a history of the theories of the origins of meteorites before the concept of modern science.

The talks were brought to life by the Society's archives and special collections - our famous geological maps, the painting of the Piltdown fraud, the letters and drawings of Mary Anning, and the Society's very own meteorite which fell in 1822!

Find out more about the talks, with links to further resources

Image Gallery

Compare & Contrast - a talk by Duncan Hawley and John Henry Map experts Duncan Hawley and John Henry Duncan Hawley and John Henry with the Smith and Greenough maps Duncan Hawley points out features of the Greenough map John Henry takes questions from the audience Mary Anning - a talk by Tom Sharpe Tom Sharpe Display of prints, maps, drawings and letters from the archives about the Jurassic discoveries of Mary Anning Engraving of a 'Proteo-saurus' [Ichthyosaur] which was found by Mary Anning in Lyme Regis in 1818 Letter from Mary Anning to Charlotte Murchison Tom Sharpe recounting the publication of De la Beche’s Duria Antiquior Early lithograph of an Ichthyosaur from 1819 The Men who made Piltdown - a talk by David Bate In our Council Room, David Bate explains the history of the Piltdown fraud David identifies the characters in our famous Piltdown painting Meteorites - a talk by Paul Henderson Paul Henderson lectures to a full house in the Upper Library Paul Henderson lectures Following the lecture visitors enjoyed an archive display in the Lyell Room Edward King’s Remarks Concerning Stones Said to Have Fallen from the Clouds Both in These Days and in Antient Times (1796) which inspired Paul Henderson’s lecture The evening ended with an opportunity to hold the Society's very own meteorite! Holding the Society's meteorite Our speakers: (L-R) Paul Henderson, David Bate, Tom Sharpe, John Henry, Duncan Hawley Prof Paul Henderson holds the Society's meteorite