PRE-PLATE TECTONIC IDEAS

ONCE THE COASTS OF AFRICA AND SOUTH AMERICA HAD BEEN MAPPED, THE FIT OF THE TWO WAS NOTICED BY ABRAHAM ORTELIUS (1596) AND FRANCIS BACON (1620), LEADING TO THE IDEA THAT THESE WERE ONCE JOINED AND LATER SEPARATED

(Davidson et al)

BY THE END OF THE 19TH CENTURY EDUARD SUESS PROPOSED THAT THE PRESENT SOUTHERN CONTINENTS HAD ONCE FORMED A SINGLE GIANT CONTINENT CALLED GONDWANALAND