Abstract
This chapter presents a summary of the development of landscape studies in Africa since their inception in the 1930s. The role of Lester C. King in the progress and advancements of geomorphology studies in Africa, both in terms of processes and landforms, particularly the ancient landscape complexes and the evolution of geomorphological thinking, is herein highlighted. Later scientific developments in these fields are recognised as well.
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Notes
- 1.
It must be appreciated that the references cited here are only a small proportion of those covering the subject of this review.
References
It must be appreciated that the references cited here are only a small proportion of those covering the subject of this review.
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Dixey F (1938) Some observations on the physiographic development of central and southern Africa. Trans Geol Soc S Afr 41:113–172
Dixey F (1942) Erosion cycles in central and southern Africa. Trans Geol Soc S Afr 45:151–181
Fair TJD, King LC (1954) Erosion land-surfaces in the eastern marginal areas of South Africa. Trans Geol Soc S Afr 62:19–26
Hanson EK, Moore JM, Bordy JS, Marsh JS, Hayworth G, Robey JVA (2009) Cretaceous erosion in central South Africa: evidence from upper crustal xenoliths in kimberlite diatremes. S Afr J Geol 112:125–140
Jessen O (1936) Reisen Und Forschungen in Angola. Reimer, Berlin, 397Â pp
King LC (1941) The monoclinal coast of Natal, South Africa. J Geomorphol 3:144–153
King LC (1942) South African scenery. Oliver & Boyd, Edinburgh, 308Â pp
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Acknowledgements
This writer wishes to acknowledge with thanks some of the information contained in a manuscript version of a paper given to him by C.R. (Rowl) Twidale, Australia, some years ago now, entitled ‘Lester King – Last of the Explorer Scientists’.
He also acknowledges with deep gratitude all the work and companionship of his long-time friend and colleague Tim Partridge (1942–2009), who was also a very observant scientist and who researched and published in quite a few scientific disciplines other than geomorphology (archaeology, soil science, palaeoanthropology, palaeoclimates, engineering geology and geology). He was indeed a prolific publisher, like King, but sadly he died of a sudden heart attack, all too soon, while still in his productive prime.
This writer also wishes to thank Mrs. Sandy du Toit and Mrs. Sally Padayachee for their valuable assistance in the production of this review.
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Maud, R.R. (2014). A Brief Review of the Development of Gondwana Landscape Studies in Africa, the Centrepiece of the Former Gondwana. In: Rabassa, J., Ollier, C. (eds) Gondwana Landscapes in southern South America. Springer Earth System Sciences. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7702-6_5
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