CATASTROPHISMOne of the major themes in the story of the fossil record is the catastrophic and violent death that is demonstrated. In recent years, leading geologists have been moving away from the gradualistic theories of Lyellian uniformitarianism and embracing "neo-catastrophism." While they would emphasize the concept of catastrophe, usually water related, most would argue for many catastrophes forming the major features of the fossil record,with great ages elapsing between these formations. Creationists feel that features like polystrate fossils (multiple layers intersected), preserved delicate surface features (raindrops, tracks, ripples), lack of bioturbation (organisms disturbing the sediments), soft sediment deformation, clastic dikes, and undisturbed bedding planes all point to continuous, rapid deposits. The big picture of the fossil record is often lost in the fine detail of studying particular geologic formations or interesting artifacts. Indeed 95% of all fossils are marine invertebrates (shellfish); 95% of those left are algae or plant fossils; and only .0125% are vertebrates (mostly fish). "The fossil record is best understood as a marine cataclysm." (Morris, The Young Earth, 1994, p. 70.) While much work remains to be done in the area of creationist geology and paleontology, efforts like Joe Taylor’s analysis of fossil graveyards, the ICR’s observations of rapid stratification and canyon formation at Mt. St. Helens, hydrodynamic experiments like those being performed on Professor M.E. Clark’s flume apparatus (top right) and studies in stratification by the French Geologist Guy Berthault (lower) are adding exciting new empirical information to the debate. Just recently Steve Austin substantiated a layer of limestone in the grand canyon that contains billions of nautiloids, buried in a mass kill event covering many hundreds of square miles! (Austin, Fifth ICC Paper, 2003.) Increasingly the evidence calls into question traditional interpretations of the geologic record.