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of the Histories of Anthropology

Theodore Ber (1820-1900), a French Americanist archaeologist, is representative of the many shadowy figures who in the 19th century contributed for the development of this scientific field. While most of his counterparts limited themselves to a minor role, Ber, for his part, probably dreamed of rising to a higher level in the hierarchy of Americanists. His example makes it possible to question the status of the “researcher” who, at that time and in a large number of disciplines, was not yet professionalized.

Keywords: Archaeology | 19th century | France | Bolivia | Peru | Tiahuanaco | Americanism