L’invention de la préhistoire par les objets

Abstract

The archaeological collections which Jacques Boucher de Perthes 1788-1868) sent in 1860 to the National natural history museum, remain little known. This donation sent to Armand de Quatrefages, (on 1810-1892).had to constitute a material of study intended to be presented in the galleries of the Anthropology according to a precise organization indicated by Boucher de Perthes himself. Today, there is no sample in the public rooms of the public rooms of the Museum. However during the last exhibition which took place to the Museum of the Man in February, 2007, double-sided resulting from the Somme as well as a said human mandible "jaw of Mill-crust" (Abbeville) were presented to the public. According to cartels, the origin of parts seemed ancient: “Abbeville, valley of the Somme. France. Label annotated by Boucher de Perthes's hand, French prehistorian (1788-1868). Collection of Prehistory. MN.H.N. M.H. The mention."annotated by Boucher de Perthes's hand" was going to arouse numerous questions. Were these vestiges a part of a group? What was the amplitude and the nature of this bottom? Finally where this one was (localized) today? Parts exposedin 2007, had to guide us, not without numerous bends, without the Jardin des Plantes to the Museum of the Man, to reconstitute the very first archaeological collection that J. Boucher of Perthes sent to the "Museum of Paris".

Keywords

• Abbeville
• antic fauna
• Boucher de Perthes
• National museum of natural history
• prehistory
• Somme