Geology: From Antiquity to Modern Day Geoheritage and Geoconservation, with Britain as a Case Study - From Geoheritage to Geoparks - page 32

Geology: From Antiquity to Modern Day
Geoheritage and Geoconservation,
with Britain as a Case Study

La géologie: de l'Antiquité à nos jours Le
géopatrimoine et la géoconservation, cas de la
Grande-Bretagne

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M. Brocx and V. Semeniuk

Abstract
This paper outlines the long history of investigations and writings in regard to the geology,
i.e., in the increasing level of awareness of the geological phenomena and the properties of
geological materials resulting in different uses and hence different values being assigned to
stone, minerals and metals, and crystals. This history spans from antiquity to the secular
scientic endeavours that led to founding principles in geology, and the development of its
discipline and sub-disciplines. The post-industrialisation events in Britain led to the world ' s

rst geosite inventory-based on geoconservation needs. While the beginnings of curiosity in
geology date back to the beginning of civilisation, interest in what is now termed geoheritage ,
in modern times, largely derives from Britain. As such, with its classic sites, reference sites,
and type locations, many of which are global standards for stratigraphy, and sites illustrating
geological principles, Britain provides a case study of the history and development of
geoconservation.

Résumé
Ce travail donne un aper

ç u sur la longue histoire des investigations et des é crits li é s à la

g é ologie. Cette derni è re a é volu é avec la croissante prise de conscience des ph é nom è nes

g é ologiques et des propri é t é s des mat é riaux g é ologiques r é sultant de diff é rentes utilisations et

donc des valeurs diff é rentes ont é t é affect é es à la pierre, les min é raux et les m é taux, et des

cristaux. Cette histoire s 'é tend de l ' Antiquit é aux efforts scienti ques la ï ques qui ont conduit

aux principes fondateurs de la g é ologie, le d é veloppement de ses discipline et sous-disciplines.

Les nements post-industrialisation en Grande-Bretagne ont conduit au premier inventaire

mondial des g

é v é

é é é

osites bas sur un besoin de g oconservation. Alors que le commencement de

l ' int é r ê t à la g é ologie remonte au d é but de la civilisation, l ' int é r ê taug é opatrimoine revient

surtout à la Grande-Bretagne. Avec ses sites classiques, ses sites de r é f é rence, ses sites