Geology meets archaeology: rediscovering the life and work of Geoffroy d’Ault du Mesnil (1842–1921)

Abstract

NOTICE: this is the author's version of a work that was accepted for publication in Proceedings of the Geologists' Association. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be re ected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A de nitive version was subsequently published in Proceedings of the Geologists ' Association, 126, February 2015, 10.1016/j.pgeola.2014 Additional information: Use policyThe full-text may be used and/or reproduced, and given to third parties in any format or medium, without prior permission or charge, for personal research or study, educational, or not-for-pro t purposes provided that:• a full bibliographic reference is made to the original source • a link is made to the metadata record in DRO • the full-text is not changed in any way The full-text must not be sold in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.Please consult the full DRO policy for further details. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 65 2 AbstractThe period between the middle of the nineteenth century and the beginning of the twentieth century saw the birth and consolidation of prehistory and archaeology as scientific disciplines. Discussions of method and theory were posed; the antiquity of humankind was demonstrated; stratigraphic and chrono-typological sequences were settled. This process was initially linked to the natural and geological sciences. In France the names of J. Boucher de Perthes, E. Lartet, A. de Lapparent, E. Piette, E. Cartailhac, G. de Mortillet, L. Capitan and H. Breuil appeared; their role in the development of research frameworks at the national, European and international scales is well known, and they have been the subject of detailed studies in the historiography of geology and/or archaeology. However, the name of one of the most influential characters of the period seems to have been forgotten. This paper attempts to reassess the scientific standing and explore the personal life of Geoffroy d'Ault du Mesnil (1842-1921) through first-hand analysis of a variety of sources. The paper analyses the origins of his interdisciplinary approach to science, how he came to be a leading expert on the Quaternary terraces of the valley of the Somme and his key role in research on, and the preservation of, France's prehistoric heritage. This ultimately permits a renewed understanding of d'Ault du Mesnil's contribution to the scientific development of geology and prehistory, in addition to demonstrating how the wider social, economic and political context of the time shaped his own scientific personality.

Reassessment of the ‘Abbevillien’ in the perspective of new discoveries from the Lower Palaeolithic and Quaternary sites of Abbeville (Somme, northern France)

“…He speaks in his 1896 paper about several archaeological levels ‘dans les sablières au dessus du Champ de Mars (in sandpits located above Champ de Mars)’, putting the ‘Chellean tools’ in ‘une marne sableuse grise (limon crayeux), à stratification horizontale avec Elephas primigenius, Elephas antiquus, Elephas meridionalis, Rhinoceros merckii … et très rarement de la base des graviers (sous‐jacents) – (a grey sandy marl (chalky silt), horizontally stratified with Elephas primigenius, Elephas antiquus, Elephas meridionalis, Rhinoceros merckii … and very rarely from the base of the (underlying) gravels)’ and the ‘Acheulean’ bifaces (more elaborate limandes) in the sands and gravels situated above the marl. His rare publications unfortunately do not specify in which quarry he found these pieces and only a schematic map and summarized description of the stratigraphic levels is given (see explanations and discussions in López‐Romero, 2015; Bahain et al ., 2016).…”

“…Les uns amygdaloïdes, les autres lancéolés, plats et soigneusement façonnés, sont les plus communs; ils sont taillés à (underlying) gravels)' and the 'Acheulean' bifaces (more elaborate limandes) in the sands and gravels situated above the marl. His rare publications unfortunately do not specify in which quarry he found these pieces and only a schematic map and summarized description of the stratigraphic levels is given (see explanations and discussions in López-Romero, 2015;Bahain et al, 2016).…”