Enormous Fossil Animal and Almost Perfect Skeleton: Bicentenary Symposium.
Enormous Fossil Animal and Almost Perfect Skeleton: Bicentenary Symposium.
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'Enormous Fossil Animal and Almost Perfect Skeleton’ : A Bicentenary Symposium
to mark the first detailed scientific accounts of the Megalosaurus by William Buckland and Plesiosaurus by William Daniel Conybeare, read at the Geological Society meeting of February 20th 1824.
Jointly convened by HOGG and OUMNH
Prof Hugh Torrens has remarked: "This was one of the most important, if not the most important, meeting of the Geological Society."
The accounts and announcements made by Buckland and Conybeare on 20th February were to a packed house - the largest crowd yet seen at a Geological Society meeting.
Buckland's account was the first scientific description of a fossil giant reptile in a group of fossils that was later to be named 'Dinosauria' and Conybeare's suggestions about the life mode of the plesiosaur proved to be influential on scientific and popular images of 'the ancient world'.
The bicentenary symposium aims to discuss historical aspects linked to Buckland, Conybeare, the Megalosaurus and Plesiosaurus specimens and the context of their discovery and preparation, the impact of their announcements at the Geological Society, and work on subsequent geological knowledge, thinking and imaginations.
The symposium has assembled thirteen authoritative speakers to present on these different aspects including:
Dr Mark Evans, Tom Sharpe, Dr Peter Lincoln, Dr Susan Newell, Danielle Czerkaszyn, Dr Emma Nicholls, Dr Richard Fallon, Martin Simpson, Prof. Renee Clary, Duncan Hawley, Dr Chris Duffin, Philip Powell, Dr Mark Witton.
Participants will also have opportunity to view the famous type Megalosaurus specimen described by Buckland, an impressive contemporary cast of the Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus described by Conybeare and made by Sir Frances Chantrey, other associated fossil specimens and material in the Buckland Archives at the OUMNH.
The registration fee includes a symposium abstracts booklet, refreshments (tea/coffee/biscuits) and a buffet lunch (with fruit drinks).
Registration fee = £40.
HOGG members = £30
Benefit from HOGG membership and register for this Symposium at the reduced fee, join HOGG and we will send a member code to apply. You will also enjoy two issues of GeoHistories magazine, a regular bulletin of updates and privileged access to HOGG’s programme of regular talks and conferences. Membership only costs £15 a year. To join HOGG send email to: historyofgeologygroup@gmail.com - simply type ‘Membership’ in the Subject and your name in the message - we will respond with straightforward joining instructions.
Symposium Programme
Presentations are 20 minutes (15 minutes, plus 5 minutes for questions and discussion).
10.00 |
Registration |
|
10.20–10.30 |
Welcome, introduction, house arrangements |
|
10.30–11.30 |
Session 1 1.1 The meeting at the Geological Society of London on February 20th 1824 1.2 A trio of plesiosaurs for Christmas: the three plesiosaur skeletons discovered by Captain Waring and Miss Anning of Lyme Regis in December 1823 1.3 ‘The most wonderful wonder ever discovered’: Mary Anning’s 1823 Plesiosaurus |
3 papers Duncan Hawley Dr Mark Evans Dr Mike Taylor Tom Sharpe |
11.30 –11.50 |
Break (tea/coffee + biscuits) |
|
11.50–12.50 |
Session 2 2.1 Bones before Buckland: Discoveries of dinosaur bones in Stonesfield before the 19th century 2.2 Malosaurus: Curating a Global Icon 2.3 Unearthing the Buckland Archive at OUMNH: an archivist’s insights |
3 papers Philip Powell Dr Emma Nicholls Danielle Czerkaszyn |
12.50–13.40 |
Lunch |
|
13.40–15.00 |
Viewing Session 1. Megalosaurus type specimen: presented at the 1824 meeting, by William Buckland 2. Archive material: related to William Buckland, W.D. Conybeare and Mary Morland 3. Plesiosaurus dolichodeirus: contemporary cast, by Sir Frances Chantrey, of the specimen displayed at the 1824 meeting 4. Specimens from Stonesfield Slate Quarry and beyond |
4 sessions Divided into 20 minute slots, including 5 minutes within each slot for changeover |
15.00– 16.20 |
Session 3 3.1 The Ammon Knight and the Phat Duke: William Buckland’s sociability, social connections and science 3.2 Mary Morland and Megalosaurus: the Task of Making Illustrations for William Buckland 3.3 Four big lizards, four big egos and the roles played by 'outsiders' in the discovery, description and naming of fossil reptiles in southern England in the 1820s. 3.4 Richard Owen and his interpretation, classification and naming of 'Dinosauria' |
4 papers Dr Peter Lincoln Dr Susan Newell Martin Simpson
Dr Chris Duffin |
16.20–16.40 |
Break (tea/coffee + biscuits) |
|
16.40–17.40 |
Session 4 4.1 Plesiosaurus as represented in Duria antiquior and its derivatives 4.2 Waterhouse Hawkins' dinosaurs at Crystal Palace: legacies of Megalosaurus and Plesiosaurus 4.3 The Evolution of the Fictional Megalosaurus, 1836–1912. |
3 papers Renne Clary & Tom Sharpe Dr Mark Witton Dr Richard Fallon |
17.40–17.45 |
Closing Remarks |
Location
Oxford University Museum of Natural History, OX1 3PW