h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

This is a superb entry.

I am just getting into geology locally, and your article has made it a certainty that I will try to visit the IOW in the next year or two.

Woodpigeon (who is stuck on an island with very few rocks beyond the Carboniferous period....)

Thanks for having a read and commenting! I must admit it gets a bit depressing when no-one seems to notice these articles I've written, but thanks for popping by.
I'd definately recommend visiting the Island - have you seen the "Live From Dinosaur Island" programme that was on last year?

And which island are you on? One off the Irish coast, or elsewhere?

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Hi Bluebottle,

Yes I am getting into the mode of hitting a few random entries, reading them, and if I like it, saying so to the author. Your entry is one of the most comprehensive I have seen on H2G2. I didn't see the documentary, but it sounds very interesting.

I am actually living in mainland Ireland (an island in the macroscopic sense), but from what I can see, the rocks are actually quite old in almost all parts of the island. The only exception, to my knowledge, is Antrim, where there were volcanic outflows about 65 million years ago (interestingly enough), producing among other things, the Giant's Causeway. To my knowledge, only 1 dinosaur fossil has ever been found in Ireland, not surprisingly in Antrim.

Anyway, I am still very much in learning mode here, so it might be possible that there is much more to the fossil record in Ireland than might be apparent at first sight.

Woodpigeon

Well, if you liked this one, I hope you read the other 8 articles I wrote as part of the "Dinosaurs Of The Isle of Wight" project, including a review of the "Live From Dinosaur Island" series.

Doesn't Ireland have an impressive amount of Ice Age fossils, such as the "Irish Elk" etc? I don't know much about that era, apart from having watched "Walking With Beasts" etc., but it certainly seems interesting.

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Yes, that's right. Mainly preserved in bogs. I have actually written an entry (currently in Peer Review) that mentions this. It's about the "Younger Dryas" - the mini-Ice Age that polished them off - A743276 -. Let me know what you think!

I will take a look at all the remainder of your entries.

Woodpigeon

Bluebottle - this is marvellous. Such a huge amount of detail! You didn't have a role in the BBC series yourself?

Woodpigeon

Me? I'm just a guy with an interest in the Isle of Wight and Dinosaurs who read a few books, walked around the coast, did a bit of research and jotted down what I had learnt. Although if the BBC wants to hire someone, I wouldn't say no

I enjoyed reading your article - well written, and to the point. Well done!

<BB<

Thanks a lot!

If I get a chance to go the the Isle of Wight sometime in the future, I will certainly know where to go for more details!

Woodpigeon

I'd definately go if you can - its a nice place, and much more relaxed than the mainland.

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