For what achievement was William Buckland awarded the Copley Medal?
For discovering a new dinosaur
For revolutionizing paleontology
For proving a cave was a prehistoric hyena den
For theorizing the age of the Earth
Answer
William Buckland was awarded the Copley Medal in 1819 for proving that a cave in Gibraltar was a prehistoric hyena den. The cave contained bones of extinct animals, including bears, lions, elephants, and rhinoceroses, and Buckland showed that these bones had been gnawed by hyenas. This discovery helped to establish Theory of evolution, as it showed that animals could change over time.
Unearthing the Secrets: The William Buckland Quiz
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