Irish historical geological maps.

Although national geological surveys, dealing as they do with the natural world, do not set out to be instruments of cultural heritage (except perhaps where they overlap with the traces of human activity: cities, roads, and the like), the maps and other documents produced as artifacts in themselves are certainly cultural objects, some quite strikingly so.

The geological survey organizations of England and Ireland have jointly created a web site to access digitized Irish geological maps, sections, and supporting documents created during the 19th century. The maps are beautiful and the accompanying “explanatory memoirs” are fascinating.