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Reviews

“Walsh and Topping’s investigation is detailed, thorough, readable and the final word on one of the popular icons of archaeology.” • Antiquity

“While the crystal skull story is a fascinating one, the impact of this book goes far beyond it: it is a must-read for anyone who wants to explore the murky world of nineteenth-century archaeological collecting and museums.” • Latin American Antiquity

“When analyzing the complex and surprising personality of the antiquarian Eugène Boban, this book should be considered as an important contribution not only to the biography of the man, but, in a general way, to the history of Americanism that was emerging in the 19th century. In addition to the rich documentation, the book also offers a pleasing and enjoyable narrative. We highly recommend it to both the historian of archeology and the novice eager to know more about the "mystery" of the crystal skulls.” • HISTOIRE(S) de l'Amérique latine

“The very detailed and well-documented description of practices of exchange and trade in archaeological objects opens up many avenues for research on the behavior of researchers and the future of collections. Far from being about only Americanism, Jane Walsh and Brett Topping's book paints an unprecedented panorama of the environments and practices of nascent archaeological research. It goes far beyond the biographical aspect of the hero, which serves as a guide for them to reach the level of a true sociological study of the founding community of our discipline.” • Nouvelles d'Archéologie

“An excellent biography of a little-known but important figure in the nineteenth-century history of American archaeology…” • Norman Hammond, McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, Cambridge University

Description

Eugène Boban began life in humble circumstances in Paris, traveled to the California Gold Rush, and later became a recognized authority on pre-Columbian cultures.  He also invented an entire category of archaeological artifact: the Aztec crystal skull. By his own admission, he successfully “palmed off” a number of these crystal skulls on the curators of Europe’s leading museums. How could that happen, and who was this man? Detailed are the travels, self-education, and archaeological explorations of Eugène Boban; this book also explores the circumstances that allowed him to sell fakes to museums that would remain undetected for over a century.

Subject: Museum Studies Archaeology

Area: Latin America