History of the Society
Important Dates
3 August 1976 - Dr Jaques van Heerden circular about the conept of a society
24 November 1976 - The first voting for office bearers
June 1977 - Karoo Palaeontology Symposium
September 1977 - First edition of PalNews published
2-5 July 1979 - 1st PSSA Conference
April 1980 - Call for society emblem
December 1986 - Lystrosaurus emblem accepted
24 November 1976 - The first voting for office bearers
June 1977 - Karoo Palaeontology Symposium
September 1977 - First edition of PalNews published
2-5 July 1979 - 1st PSSA Conference
April 1980 - Call for society emblem
December 1986 - Lystrosaurus emblem accepted
“After discussing various problems with a number of fellow palaeontologists I have come to the conclusion that we are in dire need of a Palaeontological Society in Southern Africa. Such a Society will undoubtedly form a powerful and effective mouthpiece when authorities have to be approached eg. for the preservation of fossil localities which are in danger of disappearing such as at Harrismith, Thaba ’Nchu and Aliwal North”.
Dr Jacques van Heerden
3 August 1976
3 August 1976
"He went on to say why he thought an association was desirable, and to outline his concept for a Newsletter that the association might wish to publish. The response from the addressees was positive, and in this rather unspectacular way our Society was born.
Quite which date should be regarded as the real date of our foundation as a Society is not easy to determine; at least two compete: the date of the original circular letter from Dr Jacques van Heerden (3 Aug 1976), and the date of a follow-up circular advising the outcome of the initial questionnaire and including the first voting form for the first office bearers (24 Nov 1976). The four months between the two make little difference; as I pointed out in the editorial to volume 4 part 4 of PAL News/PAL Nuus (June 1986), we are now officially ten years old, and about to enter our societal “teens”. As with all teenagers, we have seen crises and problems, but out presence here today shows that we have weathered the storms and gained valuable insights and experience to help us tackle those other problems that lie in wait for us down the road ahead!"
Quite which date should be regarded as the real date of our foundation as a Society is not easy to determine; at least two compete: the date of the original circular letter from Dr Jacques van Heerden (3 Aug 1976), and the date of a follow-up circular advising the outcome of the initial questionnaire and including the first voting form for the first office bearers (24 Nov 1976). The four months between the two make little difference; as I pointed out in the editorial to volume 4 part 4 of PAL News/PAL Nuus (June 1986), we are now officially ten years old, and about to enter our societal “teens”. As with all teenagers, we have seen crises and problems, but out presence here today shows that we have weathered the storms and gained valuable insights and experience to help us tackle those other problems that lie in wait for us down the road ahead!"
PSSA emblem - Lystrosaurus
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A call for the society to create an emblem was written in PalNews Volume 2 Issue 2 in April 1980. This was followed by much debate and submissions of various designs. Evenually the society voted and the emblem was published in PalNews Volume 5 Issue 1, in December 1986. The emblem represents a face of the synapsid Lystrosaurus which is commonly found in the Triassic beds of the Karoo in South Africa and other regions of Gondwana.
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The original motivation that accompanied the entry from Dr Fred Grine and Dr Jurie van den Heever (drawn by Cedric Hunter) was published in PALNews Volume 2 Issue 4, December 1981:
- In view of the various disciplines in palaeobiology, an emblem which attempts to represent each branch would have to be so vague as to be meaningless or, alternatively, it would consist of an artistically impractical agglomeration of symbolic elements.
- Whilst all branches of palaeontology are of equal importance, the therapsids (mammal-like reptiles) are probably the most well-known South African fossils because of their unique evolutionary context.
- Amongst the therapsids Lystrosaurus occupies a central position in as much as it is found in the middle of the Beaufort sediments. Furthermore, Lystrosaurus is not only abundant in South Africa, but it is also represented in the various elements of Gondwanaland. This genus therefore serves as an excellent palaeo-geographic link.
- Therefore, we suggest, as a Society emblem, a graphic reconstruction of an idealised Lystrosaurus skull in frontal view. The initials of the Society appear, in both English and Afrikaans, below the skull in a simple legible manner. We feel that this emblem is immediately recognisable and would be suitable for use on letterheads and Society publications, and as lapel badges, tie pins, etc.
