The article "Prolegomena to a Study of Cataclysmal Sedimentation" argues that many geological formations could have been formed rapidly by cataclysmic events, rather than through slow, gradual processes as suggested by uniformitarianism. The author, N.A. Rupke, suggests that the biblical flood could be such a cataclysmic event. Rupke provides a historical overview of the concept of cataclysmal deposition, beginning with Nicolaus Steno's work in the 17th century. He discusses the contributions of various geologists, highlighting how the debate between catastrophism and uniformitarianism shaped geological thought. He argues that many geological features, including polystrate fossils (fossils extending through multiple layers of strata) and ephemeral markings, are better explained by rapid deposition. Rupke contends that while the mechanism of cataclysmal sedimentation may be difficult to fully comprehend, the abundance of geological evidence supporting it cannot be ignored. He concludes by challenging the uniformitarian principle of "the present is the key to the past," advocating for a more open-minded approach to interpreting Earth's history.