Boucher de Perthes and the Discovery of Human Antiquity

Why did Boucher de Perthes’ discoveries ofhandaxes in the Somme River’s gravels need to be verified by English geologist JosephPrestwich, and antiquarian John Evans, before members of the French Academy of Scienceschanged their minds about evidence for the antiquity of humanity? The problem was notwith the evidence itself, but with the way Boucher de Perthes interpreted and publishedit. Teetotal, but an over-imaginative Romantic, a provincial bureaucrat and anantiquarian scholar, an autodidact, and a generous provider of charity to local workersand early advocate for women’s education, Boucher de Perthes was not only eccentric andremarkable, but also his own worst enemy. He was easily dismissed by the scientificelite of Paris until more handaxes were found at other sites and in different countries,and were recognised as being similar to those found at Abbeville