Author Archives: mwilson

About mwilson

Mark Wilson is an emeritus Professor of Geology at The College of Wooster. He specializes in invertebrate paleontology, carbonate sedimentology, and stratigraphy. He also is an expert on pseudoscience, especially creationism.

Glorious blue skies emerge in southern Israel

mwilson March 17, 2012 1:24 am

The first photo below was taken from my hotel room yesterday afternoon as the cold wind raged and rain approached. The second was taken this morning. Springtime in Israel! We are now leaving on a trip to the Dead Sea … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Iron Age water management in the northern Negev

mwilson March 16, 2012 12:46 pm

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–This region has a very deep human history, and some of it is evident in subtle changes to the landscape itself. Throughout the northern Negev are simple stone structures that are sometimes called “Davidic forts” after King David … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Desert Tulips!

mwilson March 16, 2012 10:27 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–These were a delightful surprise this morning. Scattered across the rough Cretaceous limestones were these astoundingly red desert tulips (Tulipa systola). They looked like drops of blood across the landscape. (An unfortunate metaphor in this part of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A windy, windy day in the Cretaceous

mwilson March 16, 2012 9:38 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–Melissa and I finished our work in the Jurassic of Makhtesh Gadol yesterday, so today we went out with Yoav to explore the Upper Cretaceous and Eocene exposures just a few kilometers north of Mitzpe Ramon. This is … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

The Dancing Flowers of Makhtesh Gadol

mwilson March 15, 2012 11:15 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–It was difficult to coax them into standing still long enough for their portraits. The wind kept everything moving, so for some of these shots I held the camera in one hand and used the other as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

A field day cut short by angry camels and a threat of rain … but at least the dust is gone!

mwilson March 15, 2012 10:08 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–Compare the image above to the one taken in the same place two days ago. Much better! Our only dust today was a local product from the unending winds. The Saharan dust is gone. We paid for this … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Wooster Geologists in the Wilderness of Zin

mwilson March 14, 2012 3:17 pm

MITZPE RAMON–Three times we cross Nahal Zin (or Wadi Zin) on our way to Makhtesh Gadol from Mitzpe Ramon. Nahal Zin is an intermittent stream, meaning it is dry most of the time, but during the rainy season can have … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

A silent desert friend on the outcrops

mwilson March 14, 2012 2:09 pm

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–This exquisite snail is not a fossil, although students in the field often mistake it for one. (Melissa did not, I quickly add.) It is a terrestrial, air-breathing pulmonate snail called Sphincterochila boissieri. It is abundant in parts … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Negev and Mojave Desert ecological analogues

mwilson March 14, 2012 11:48 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–One reason why I like working in the Negev is that it was already familiar when I first visited in 2003. I grew up in the Mojave Desert of southern California, which is very similar to the Negev … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Wooster Geologists in Paleontological Heaven

mwilson March 14, 2012 11:24 am

MITZPE RAMON, ISRAEL–The above is an untouched view of an eroding marl of the Matmor Formation (Middle Jurassic) in Makhtesh Gadol. I simply placed a one shekel coin in the scene for scale. This is why we love this place … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments