“Fossils”, Steno and Strata

Origin of Fossils and Figured Stones

What theories were viable in the 16th century? Based on sample discussion:

• Aristotle substances (3)
• Petrific Seeds (6)
• Lapidifying Juice (3)
• Plato’s forms (4)

Arguments about “Figured Stones”: Why so hard?

• Inorganic
  • No living analog for shapes
  • At best, crude impersonation of organic forms
  • Forms are in rocks and commonly made of rock!
  • No idea about processes of preservation
  • How get them to hills and mountains?
  • Alternate explanations are available
• Organic
  • In some cases, the shape is that of modern forms (or at least close)
  • Processes of petrification may have altered original form
  • In some cases (shark’s teeth) internal structure identical to modern

Steno

• First work on strata but a bit odd
• Origin of “figured stones”
  • Forms from surrounding liquid that solidify
    • MTH: as crystals or settled solids
  • First formed solid leaves an impression on later formed
  • Two solid bodies that are similar in both internal and external form probably formed in the same way
  • Recognized similarities vary
• Origin of strata
  • Form by settling of materials due to gravity
  • Smooths out the bottom as accumulate
  • Sequential deposition of layers
  • Contents indicate setting of deposition
    • Freshwater shells, plants
    • Marine shells, ships
  • Principles: This leads to superposition, original horizontality, lateral continuity
• Tuscany
  • Sequence of events
  • Two cycles of deposition, formation of vast caverns, and collapse
  • Hard to reconcile with short time line – not addressed
  • Raises issue of reconciling human history (including Scripture) with natural history.