Archive for category: Publications

New from the Northwest Highlands UNESCO Global Geopark, a Walker’s Guide to Coigach & Assynt. The book explores 26 walks selected by the local community with over 110 stunning colour photographs, maps for each route, and information about the local history and geology. The walks range from short strolls to mountain adventures – so there’s something for everyone. It also includes a foreword by mountaineer Sir Chris Bonnington.

If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for fans of the Geopark and the North West Highlands, or perhaps just looking for inspiration for your next adventure in 2022, take a look at the Walker’s Guide in the Geopark’s online shop. For UK orders we recommend ordering by December 15th for delivery in time for Christmas.

https://www.nwhgeopark.com/shop/

Beasts Before Us – The Untold Story of Mammal Origins and Evolution by palaeontologist Elsa Panciroli charts the emergence of the mammal lineage, Synapsida, beginning at their murky split from the reptiles in the Carboniferous period, over three-hundred million years ago. They made the world theirs long before the rise of dinosaurs. Travelling forward into the Permian and then Triassic periods, we learn how our ancient mammal ancestors evolved from large hairy beasts with accelerating metabolisms to exploit miniaturisation, which was key to unlocking the traits that define mammals as we now know them.

Elsa criss-crosses the globe to explore the sites where discoveries are being made and meet the people who make them. In Scotland, she traverses the desert dunes of prehistoric Moray, where quarry workers unearthed the footprints of Permian creatures from before the time of dinosaurs. In South Africa, she introduces us to animals, once called ‘mammal-like reptiles’, that gave scientists the first hints that our furry kin evolved from a lineage of egg-laying burrowers. In China, new, complete fossilised skeletons reveal mammals that were gliders, shovel-pawed Jurassic moles, and flat-tailed swimmers.

This book radically reframes the narrative of our mammalian ancestors and provides a counterpoint to the stereotypes of mighty dinosaur overlords and cowering little mammals. It turns out the earliest mammals weren’t just precursors, they were pioneers.

Beasts Before Us is available to EGS members at 20% off (rrp) – use the code BEASTS20 at  www.bloomsbury.com/beastsbeforeus

Members and friends of the Edinburgh Geological Society might be interested in a new book, written by Frank Rennie, about sense of place in the Outer Hebrides. Frank is a member of EGS and has previously lectured to us. He is Professor of Sustainable Rural Development, Assistant Principal (Research, Enterprise, and Development) at the University of The Highlands and Islands.

The Changing Outer Hebrides – Galson and the meaning of Place is a fascinating and intimate account of the inter-relationship between one small island village in the Hebrides and the wider world. From the formation of the bedrock 3 billion years ago, to the predictable near-future, the layers of this unique landscape are explored. The social history of the people is closely interwoven with the natural environment in a journey of deep mapping to consider the meaning of special places. Through the Iron Age and the Clearances to the contemporary events of community land ownership, a portrayal is given that challenges the perception that this is a remote place, isolated at the edge, but instead is crucial to our contemporary relationship with the land.

Published by Acair in 2020, ISBN: 9781789070835.

https://www.acairbooks.com/categories/non-fiction-titles/all-non-fiction/the-changing-outer-hebrides.aspx

These are strange times that we are living through at the moment and which is meaning changes to the life rhythms of even the Edinburgh Geological Society. As you probably aware, we had to cancel our AGM which was due to be held on the 18th March 2020. The next casualty will be our field excursion programmes on both Wednesday and Saturdays over the spring/summer months.

In the meantime, the Society is keen to keep supporting its members and the general public in any way it can. Some ways which we can do this is as follows:

1. Here is a link to the many leaflets produced by our Lothian & Borders Geoconservation Group (LBGC), describing all of the manner of geological features in the local area, which can be self-guided using the information provided. We owe it to all our current and former members of these groups who have prepared these resources to use them at this time. But remember – if going out alone to always let someone know where you are going and when you are expected back. Happy exploring!

2. Our Publication Sales Officer, Don Cameron stands ready to supply you with one of our Excursion Guides (and EGS members get a 20% discount). You can browse the selection in the Publications section of the website, and Don will respond as quickly as possible to any orders he receives. So, lets and try and pick up one of those guides we never quite had time enough to read! If you do find a good geology book (which includes our own publications), let me know and we will endeavour to post reviews on the website. We also welcome Members’ photos (not too many) which we can upload to the website as well.

3. The entire run of The Edinburgh Geologist is available online. That is 67 issues since 1977! Plenty to keep you entertained in that lot. And if you want to go further back in the past, EGS members have access to the entire Transactions of the Edinburgh Geological Society via the Lyell Collection. The Transactions cover almost 100 years (1868 to 1963) with over 800 articles.

Here’s hoping you can at least have a good read and maybe the odd trip out in the coming weeks,

Take care all,

Neil Mackenzie, Honorary Secretary secretary@edinburghgeolsoc.org