Griffith Taylor's ‘palimpsest theory’ of the dry valleys of Victoria land, antarctica

Abstract

Griffith Taylor was the first geomorphologist to work in the Dry Valleys of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica. Following his field work in February 1911, he proposed a multistage model in which earlier cirque erosion was later swamped by expanding outlet glaciers. Subsequently these glaciers retreated leaving the present form of the valleys. The topography retained the imprint of each episode, hence his name ‘palimpsest theory’. I summarise later research and compare Taylor's theory with current views.

Key Words:

• Antarctica
• exploration
• Griffith Taylor
• Dry Valleys
• geomorphology
• glaci‐ation
• scientific history