Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley door pickup 10am - 7pm 3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
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  • Open Daily: 10am - 10pm
    Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm

    3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
    612-822-4611

Open Daily: 10am - 10pm | Alley-side Pickup: 10am - 7pm
3038 Hennepin Ave Minneapolis, MN
612-822-4611
Palaeontology in Public: Popular Science, Lost Creatures and Deep Time

Palaeontology in Public: Popular Science, Lost Creatures and Deep Time

Manias, Chris

Paperback

Sports GeneralPaleontologyPhysics

Currently unavailable to order

ISBN10: 1800085834
ISBN13: 9781800085831
Publisher: UCL Press
Published: Jul 30 2025
Pages: 362
Weight: 1.00
Height: 1.00 Width: 6.00 Depth: 9.00
Language: English
An excavation of everything from Victorian fossil hunters to Jurassic Park, Chris Manias explores how paleontology's greatest discoveries have always been entangled with popular culture.

From towering dinosaurs to early human ancestors, paleontology has long captured the public imagination, yet its scientific standing has often been precarious. Palaeontology in Public studies how paleontology's public presence has shaped both the field itself and broader cultural understandings of science and nature. Through case studies spanning two centuries, this book explores the deep entanglement between vertebrate paleontology and popular culture, from early fossil discoveries to modern cinematic depictions.

Dinosaurs naturally take center stage, taking Spinosaurus, Jurassic Park, and Winsor McCay's Gertie the Dinosaur, for instance. However, equally important are the stories of Glyptodons, Mesozoic mammals, and early human fossils like Neanderthals and Australopithecus. The book draws from history, art, literature, archaeology, and science communication to depict how public fascination has fueled scientific discovery while also shaping our collective vision of life's ancient past.

A compelling read for historians of science, paleontologists, and those with a special interest in prehistoric creatures, Palaeontology in Public highlights the enduring power of fossils also as cultural icons that continue to inspire and spark debate.

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