Fossil

A time of great change, a time of great science. The American, the French, the Industrial Revolutions; the slave trade not yet fully abolished, and the emergence of new science, of 'deep time'. The Bible challenged on the goodness of mankind and the story of Creation. Mary Anning's prehistoric finds upsetting minds and whole belief systems; Mary's finds and knowledge enhancing men's careers, reputations and incomes. Mary herself side-lined, almost blotted out. A time of great change and growing scientific interest, and yet women – women of all classes – were excluded from commercial activities and natural sciences, indeed from any pursuits – professional or hobbyist – and any discussions – political and scientific – unless they were of a determined character, but were otherwise mostly mentioned or brought into the conversation (by a man), unnamed, if blame rather than credit was to be apportioned. Such attitudes seem much like fossils now.

Picture credit: Mary Anning with her dog Tray, Natural History Museum (Source: Wikipedia).

See Jurassic Mary: Mary Anning and the Primeval Monsters by Patricia Pierce.

From journal, December 2021.