Tag: physical anthropology
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Jacques Boucher de Perthes: Scholar of prehistoric man
Jacques-Louis Boucher de Perthes (1788–1868) revolutionized our understanding of human antiquity through his discoveries of flint tools associated with extinct animal remains in the Somme Valley. These findings challenged prevailing notions about the short chronology of humanity and laid the groundwork for modern prehistoric studies. Born in 1788, in Rethel, Ardennes, Boucher de Perthes grew…
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William Flinders Petrie: Champion of scientific archaeology
Sir William Matthew Flinders Petrie (1853–1942) brought revolutionary change to the study of antiquity by introducing strict excavation protocols and detailed documentation practices. He started his career at the age of nineteen by surveying Stonehenge and producing its first reliable site plan. The Egypt Exploration Fund employed him in 1880 to conduct excavations at Tanis, Naukratis, and Amarna. Through his excavations, Petrie discovered…