Abstract
Many problems of stratigraphy could more easily be resolved if we returned to concepts of catastrophism. Until about 1800 geologists believed that all the stratified or water deposited rocks of the earth's surface were deposited in one year's time during the Noachian Flood. This extreme form of catastrophism is not here championed, since obviously the earth has suffered other catastrophies since the Flood such as widespread droughts and vulcanism. However, many of the vexing problems of stratigraphy would be solved if we simply took the evidence we see at face value instead of attempting to fit it into the concept of uniformitarianism made popular by Sir Charles Lyell. Lack of space forbids a discussion of all the simplifications resulting from a return to catastrophism. The following are illustrative.