Un prêtre, un savant dans la marche vers l’institutionnalisation de la préhistoire. L’abbé Henri Breuil (1877-1961)

Abstract

A Priest, a Scholar in the March toward the Institutionalization of Prehistory: Abbe Henri Breuil (1877-1961) Although prehistory as a scientific discipline was born in France, it would have to wait until the end of the first half of the 20th century to receive complete acceptance by French universities. Numerous prestigious scholars had a determining role in this movement of studies of the origins of mankind toward institutionalization. One of the leaders of this movement, abbe Breuil (1877-1961), by reason of the magnitude of his scientific activity and his personality, occupies a considerable and singular place. Very early animated by a double vocation, the priesthood and science, he positioned himself to pursue both throughout his life. He was able to accomplish his scientific work while freed of parish obligations. Attached to his faith and his religious calling, he wanted to bring together prehistoric studies and the Church. He was a determined man who knew how to position himself and militate for scholars becoming real professionals, men who had the time and the means necessary to consecrate themselves to their research, to do fieldwork, explore and publish. Thanks to Prince Albert I of Monaco, who in 1910 offered abbe Breuil the chair of prehistoric ethnography at his Institute of Human Paleontology, he was able to become the first professional prehistorian and devoted himself entirely to his research. In 1928 the College de France created for abbe Breuil the first chair dedicated to this science, and in 1938, with his election to the Academie des inscriptions et belles-lettres, this discipline finally received official and institutional recognition in France.