Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
Introduction
Harmer (1835-1923) was one of the pioneers in the field of East Anglian geology
as well as one of the last members of a distinguished group of amateur geologists
who had been responsible for making major advances in the science during the
Victorian era and early years of the 20th century. In particular, he played a key role
in elucidating the Pliocene and Pleistocene stratigraphy in the east of England by
developing the use of mollusca for biostratigraphic correlation within the Crags of
East Anglia.
1
This topic, comprising the first definitive account of the geological and palaeo-
meteorological studies made by Harmer, contributes a previously missing chapter
to the history of science. The main objective is to ensure that the scientific work of
Harmer, which unfortunately has been widely neglected or forgotten, becomes
more generally known and acknowledged. The balance of this deficiency will be
redressed by bringing to light in this volume his contributions to the history of
science to an audience of academic and lay readers of the current literature.
It is regrettable that no references are given to Harmer's research on the Crags
of East Anglia in the current literature including Geology of England and Wales,
Geological Society, London, 1992, and British Regional Geology: London and the
Thames Valley, H.M.S.O., London, 1996. He was certainly a well-respected sci-
entist in his day, being awarded Hon. M.A. Cantab., elected F.G.S. and F.R.Met.S.,
and a Membre Hon. de la Société Belge de Géologie et de Paléontologie. From an
early age he had been an active member of the Geological Society of Norwich. In
1902 he was awarded the Murchison Medal for that year in recognition of his work
on the Pliocene and Pleistocene deposits of East Anglia. A leading exponent of
19th century geological literature, Horace B. Woodward, F.R.S., F.G.S., included
Harmer in a group of geologists who 'have added greatly to our knowledge of the
structure of the [East Anglian Crag] deposits_' (Woodward
1887
).
