The history of geological travels usually focuses on the study of individuals or groups of travellers, but should also consider in detail some essential aspects of the meaning of geological travel, such as the beginnings of this particular kind of scientific travel, the emergence of a 'conscious' geological traveller, the concept of 'field' and fieldwork for a geologist and finally the first attempts to codify the style and the method of a geological travel. The aim of this paper is to look at possible answers to some of these questions presenting a short outline, based on some significant examples on the historical development of a particular kind of scientific literature still little known to date and open to further investigations: the instructions for geological travellers, which include writings by people, generally scientists, who intended to organize their experience for telling others what to do for properly undertaking geological observations. These texts may be found, from the early 18th century, within private diaries or official reports, in journals or periodicals, scholarly monographs or textbooks, but also as articles, pamphlets, booklets or even books on their own, especially late in the 19th century.
The organized traveller: scientific instructions for geological travels in Italy and Europe during the 18th and 19th centuries
VACCARI, EZIO
2007-01-01
Abstract
The history of geological travels usually focuses on the study of individuals or groups of travellers, but should also consider in detail some essential aspects of the meaning of geological travel, such as the beginnings of this particular kind of scientific travel, the emergence of a 'conscious' geological traveller, the concept of 'field' and fieldwork for a geologist and finally the first attempts to codify the style and the method of a geological travel. The aim of this paper is to look at possible answers to some of these questions presenting a short outline, based on some significant examples on the historical development of a particular kind of scientific literature still little known to date and open to further investigations: the instructions for geological travellers, which include writings by people, generally scientists, who intended to organize their experience for telling others what to do for properly undertaking geological observations. These texts may be found, from the early 18th century, within private diaries or official reports, in journals or periodicals, scholarly monographs or textbooks, but also as articles, pamphlets, booklets or even books on their own, especially late in the 19th century.
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