A SCULPTURE of the British Isles - representing three billion years of the Earth’s geology - will be officially unveiled later today (Monday, October 14) at Durham University.

Entitled 'What Lies Beneath Us', the 10m by 5m mosaic–style map – the first of its kind in the country - is made up of different rocks representing the country’s geology.

Most of the stone has come from the featured areas.

It was created over 18 months by Dorset-based stonemason/artist John de Pauley, and is funded by a £100,000 donation from The Banks Group, via its Banks Community Fund, together with further funding from Salamander Energy.

The sculpture is near the junction of South Road and Stockton Road, in Durham City, at the entrance to the University’s Lower Mountjoy complex.

It will be unveiled by Professor Iain Stewart, President of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, best known as a presenter of popular BBC science programmes including Earth: The Power of the Planet, Rough Science and Horizon.

People are invited to take their photographs on the map to show where in the country they are from.

Photographs can be Tweeted to @durham_uni #GeoSculpture.

The map will be used as a teaching resource for university Earth Science, Geography and History students and in educational outreach work with schools.

It represents another stage in the university’s commitment to providing public artworks.

It is intended that the map will become another feature on Durham’s tourist trail.

Professor Iain Stewart, also a Fellow of the Geological Society of London and Professor of Geoscience Communication at the University of Plymouth, said: “The geosculpture is a fantastic initiative for raising public awareness about geology and what lies beneath our feet.

“Most people don’t think about what’s down there, but it’s so crucial for so many of the big issues we have in the UK today and the issues facing the planet.

“Anything that encourages people to think about looking down is brilliant and it’s great to see Durham, which is so big in geosciences, looking at wider public outreach and engagement in geology.”