Henry Testot-Ferry
Encyclopedia
Henry Bernard Alfred Testot-Ferry also known as Henry de Ferry (b. 5 February 5, 1826, La Chapelle-la-Reine, Seine-et-Marne, France, d. 9 November 1869, Bussières, Saône-et-Loire, France) was a French geologist
, archeologist and paleontologist. He was discoverer of the prehistoric site at the Rock of Solutré
.
and his wife Joséphine Elizabeth Claudine Fabry.
Henry's father was a hero of the Napoleonic Wars
who had been ennobled by Emperor Napoleon I and died at Châtillon-sur-Seine
.
After a somewhite idle youth typical of the "gilded youth" of the 19th century, in which hunting
was his chief passion, he married in 1852, at the advice (or perhaps the insistence) of his older brother Gustave. His wife was Louise Madeleine O'Brien, descendant of the O'Brien clan of Munster, which had given rise to several Kings of Ireland
had sprung, and which had been received to courltly honours under Louis XV of France
in 1737. O'Brien brought as dowry
her property at Prissé, Saône-et-Loire
which they occupied until moving to settle down in the village of Bussières
, situated a few kilometres from the Rock of Solutré. Testot-Ferry became mayor of Bussières in 1856.
Testot-Ferry would have six children, whose lives would have nothing to do with paleontology. His son Alfred, born in 1853, became a ship lieutenant at Toulon
, and was elevated to Chevalier de la légion d'honneur.
. A founding member of the Comité de paléontologie française, he was put in charge of monograph
on fossil
ized cnidaria
polyps in collaboration with Dr. Louis Édouard Gourdan de Fromentel. During this time he discovered and described a new genre which took his name: "Ferrya".
Testot-Ferry was the first to note traces of different prehistoric occupations in Saône river
valley, which he found while searching the region in its entirety and particularly the Charbonnières
site.
in 1866, which had outcrops of horse
bones (called "magma"). Shortly afterwards, Testot-Ferry discovered, along the road crossing Crot-du-Charnier, a zone of homes from the "Reindeer Age" (the Upper Paleolithic era of prehistory) containing numerous flint tools and the remains of fauna. Although reindeer
predominated, horse, elephant
, red deer
, fox
, wolf and even cave tiger
were also found. In some homes he found more than 2,000 flints and almost 400 reindeer antlers.
In contrast to cave sites which had been discovered, in Solutré t was difficult to determine the size of the deposits and their boundary. Testot-Ferry proceeded to survey the area along with Adrien Arcelin. The two men decided to sift the earth with their hands, so that the remains would be methodically collected and examined.
In 1868, Testot-Ferry concluded that a hunting station had existed at the foot of the rock:
In 1867 Testot-Ferry had also discovered a small statuette of a deer. This was first known specimen of Solutrean art, and attested to the culture of prehistoric man in the same way as cave paintings.
, Gabriel de Mortillet and Sir John Lubbock
would even come to the site to help him with excavations. Testot-Ferry and Arcelin presented their research in international conferences, and Solutré very quickly became one of the most important prehistoric sites in France.
Testot-Ferry contributed to the scientific life of numerous institutions in France, and was:
An significant part of Testot-Ferry's reference collection of 5262 objects was bequeathed
to the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
in Paris
, as well as to the ainsi Musée des Ursulines in Mâcon
. His grandson, André Testot-Ferry would sell another significant part of the collection to the British Museum
of London
in 1958.
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
, archeologist and paleontologist. He was discoverer of the prehistoric site at the Rock of Solutré
Rock of Solutré
The Rock of Solutré , is a limestone escarpment west of Mâcon overlooking the commune of Solutré-Pouilly and an iconic site of the Saône-et-Loire, in the south of the Bourgogne...
.
Family
Testot-Ferry was the youngest son of Baron Claude Testot-FerryClaude Testot-Ferry
Général Baron Claude Testot-Ferry was a cavalry veteran of the armies of the First French Republic, First French Empire and Bourbon Restoration.-Origins:...
and his wife Joséphine Elizabeth Claudine Fabry.
Henry's father was a hero of the Napoleonic Wars
Napoleonic Wars
The Napoleonic Wars were a series of wars declared against Napoleon's French Empire by opposing coalitions that ran from 1803 to 1815. As a continuation of the wars sparked by the French Revolution of 1789, they revolutionised European armies and played out on an unprecedented scale, mainly due to...
who had been ennobled by Emperor Napoleon I and died at Châtillon-sur-Seine
Châtillon-sur-Seine
Châtillon-sur-Seine is a commune of the Côte-d'Or department in eastern France.-Population:-Personalities:Châtillon-sur-Seine was the birthplace of:* Auguste Marmont, duke of Ragusa , Marshal of France...
.
After a somewhite idle youth typical of the "gilded youth" of the 19th century, in which hunting
Hunting
Hunting is the practice of pursuing any living thing, usually wildlife, for food, recreation, or trade. In present-day use, the term refers to lawful hunting, as distinguished from poaching, which is the killing, trapping or capture of the hunted species contrary to applicable law...
was his chief passion, he married in 1852, at the advice (or perhaps the insistence) of his older brother Gustave. His wife was Louise Madeleine O'Brien, descendant of the O'Brien clan of Munster, which had given rise to several Kings of Ireland
King of Ireland
A monarchical polity has existed in Ireland during three periods of its history, finally ending in 1801. The designation King of Ireland and Queen of Ireland was used during these periods...
had sprung, and which had been received to courltly honours under Louis XV of France
Louis XV of France
Louis XV was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death. He succeeded his great-grandfather at the age of five, his first cousin Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, served as Regent of the kingdom until Louis's majority in 1723...
in 1737. O'Brien brought as dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
her property at Prissé, Saône-et-Loire
Prissé
Prissé is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-References:*...
which they occupied until moving to settle down in the village of Bussières
Bussières, Saône-et-Loire
Bussières is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-References:*...
, situated a few kilometres from the Rock of Solutré. Testot-Ferry became mayor of Bussières in 1856.
Testot-Ferry would have six children, whose lives would have nothing to do with paleontology. His son Alfred, born in 1853, became a ship lieutenant at Toulon
Toulon
Toulon is a town in southern France and a large military harbor on the Mediterranean coast, with a major French naval base. Located in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d'Azur region, Toulon is the capital of the Var department in the former province of Provence....
, and was elevated to Chevalier de la légion d'honneur.
The beginnings of a passion
Testot-Ferry initially devoted himself to geologyGeology
Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...
. A founding member of the Comité de paléontologie française, he was put in charge of monograph
Monograph
A monograph is a work of writing upon a single subject, usually by a single author.It is often a scholarly essay or learned treatise, and may be released in the manner of a book or journal article. It is by definition a single document that forms a complete text in itself...
on fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
ized cnidaria
Cnidaria
Cnidaria is a phylum containing over 9,000 species of animals found exclusively in aquatic and mostly marine environments. Their distinguishing feature is cnidocytes, specialized cells that they use mainly for capturing prey. Their bodies consist of mesoglea, a non-living jelly-like substance,...
polyps in collaboration with Dr. Louis Édouard Gourdan de Fromentel. During this time he discovered and described a new genre which took his name: "Ferrya".
Testot-Ferry was the first to note traces of different prehistoric occupations in Saône river
Saône
The Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
valley, which he found while searching the region in its entirety and particularly the Charbonnières
Charbonnières
Charbonnières is the name or part of the name of the following communes in France:* Charbonnières, Eure-et-Loir, in the Eure-et-Loir department* Charbonnières, Saône-et-Loire, in the saône-et-Loire department* Charbonnières-les-Bains, in the Rhône department...
site.
The Rock of Solutré
With paleontology overtaking geology as his main interest, Testot-Ferry started to probe the Crot-du-Charnier site at the foot of the Rock of SolutréRock of Solutré
The Rock of Solutré , is a limestone escarpment west of Mâcon overlooking the commune of Solutré-Pouilly and an iconic site of the Saône-et-Loire, in the south of the Bourgogne...
in 1866, which had outcrops of horse
Horse
The horse is one of two extant subspecies of Equus ferus, or the wild horse. It is a single-hooved mammal belonging to the taxonomic family Equidae. The horse has evolved over the past 45 to 55 million years from a small multi-toed creature into the large, single-toed animal of today...
bones (called "magma"). Shortly afterwards, Testot-Ferry discovered, along the road crossing Crot-du-Charnier, a zone of homes from the "Reindeer Age" (the Upper Paleolithic era of prehistory) containing numerous flint tools and the remains of fauna. Although reindeer
Reindeer
The reindeer , also known as the caribou in North America, is a deer from the Arctic and Subarctic, including both resident and migratory populations. While overall widespread and numerous, some of its subspecies are rare and one has already gone extinct.Reindeer vary considerably in color and size...
predominated, horse, elephant
Elephant
Elephants are large land mammals in two extant genera of the family Elephantidae: Elephas and Loxodonta, with the third genus Mammuthus extinct...
, red deer
Red Deer
The red deer is one of the largest deer species. Depending on taxonomy, the red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains region, Asia Minor, parts of western Asia, and central Asia. It also inhabits the Atlas Mountains region between Morocco and Tunisia in northwestern Africa, being...
, fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, wolf and even cave tiger
Tiger
The tiger is the largest cat species, reaching a total body length of up to and weighing up to . Their most recognizable feature is a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur with lighter underparts...
were also found. In some homes he found more than 2,000 flints and almost 400 reindeer antlers.
In contrast to cave sites which had been discovered, in Solutré t was difficult to determine the size of the deposits and their boundary. Testot-Ferry proceeded to survey the area along with Adrien Arcelin. The two men decided to sift the earth with their hands, so that the remains would be methodically collected and examined.
In 1868, Testot-Ferry concluded that a hunting station had existed at the foot of the rock:
In 1867 Testot-Ferry had also discovered a small statuette of a deer. This was first known specimen of Solutrean art, and attested to the culture of prehistoric man in the same way as cave paintings.
A life devoted to the sciences
In the course of his studies on the prehistoric deposits at the Rock of Solutré, Testot-Ferry came into contact with most of the prehistorians of his day to discuss and check a certain number of hypotheses. He also maintained a long correspondence with Jacques Boucher de Perthes. Édouard LartetÉdouard Lartet
Édouard Lartet was a French paleontologist.-Biography:Lartet was born near Castelnau-Barbarens, of Gers, France, where his family had lived for more than five hundred years. He was educated for the law at Auch and Toulouse, but having private means elected to devote himself to science...
, Gabriel de Mortillet and Sir John Lubbock
John Lubbock
John Lubbock is the name of:*Sir John Lubbock, 1st Baronet *Sir John Lubbock, 2nd Baronet , English banker*Sir John Lubbock, 3rd Baronet , English banker, barrister, mathematician and astronomer...
would even come to the site to help him with excavations. Testot-Ferry and Arcelin presented their research in international conferences, and Solutré very quickly became one of the most important prehistoric sites in France.
Testot-Ferry contributed to the scientific life of numerous institutions in France, and was:
- A founding member of the Comité de Paléontologie Française with whom he participated in writing the final 16 volumes of Paléontologie française which had been started by Alcide Dessalines d'Orbigny.
- Member of the Société Géologique de FranceSociété géologique de FranceThe Société géologique de France is a French learned society founded on 17 March 1830. As of 2006, it counts 1,200 members....
- Correspondent of the Linnean Society of NormandieNormandieNormandie may refer to:* The region of Normandy in north-west France and the Channel Islands* Normandie , iron-clad battleship of the 1860s.* Normandie class battleships from World War I...
- Correspondent of the Société d'Émulation du Doubs
- Titulary of the Académie de Mâcon
An significant part of Testot-Ferry's reference collection of 5262 objects was bequeathed
Bequest
A bequest is the act of giving property by will. Strictly, "bequest" is used of personal property, and "devise" of real property. In legal terminology, "bequeath" is a verb form meaning "to make a bequest."...
to the Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
Muséum national d'histoire naturelle
The Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle is the National Museum of Natural History in Paris, France.- History :The museum was formally founded on 10 June 1793, during the French Revolution...
in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, as well as to the ainsi Musée des Ursulines in Mâcon
Mâcon
Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
. His grandson, André Testot-Ferry would sell another significant part of the collection to the British Museum
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London. Its collections, which number more than seven million objects, are amongst the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its...
of London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
in 1958.
Anecdotes
- At the 1872 Brussels congress, a few years after Testot-Ferry's death, the famous anthropologist Gabriel de Morillet decided to name prehistoric cultures by the sites where they had been observed. Accordingly, he gave the name "Solutrean" to the culture discovered by Testot-Ferry near the Rock of Solutré.
- A road in Bussières, was in 2004 inaugurated Rue Henry Testot-Ferry; it runs by the house where he lived in the direction of the rock.
Publications
- Henry de Ferry and Louis Édouard Gourdan de Fromentel, Paléontologie Française, ParisParisParis is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, 1861 - Henry de Ferry, Les Gisements archéologiques des bords de la Saône, MâconMâconMâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
, 1868 - Henry de Ferry, L'Homme préhistorique en Mâconnais, 1868
- Henry de Ferry, Le Mâconnais préhistorique, Paris, 1870
See also
- Claude Testot-FerryClaude Testot-FerryGénéral Baron Claude Testot-Ferry was a cavalry veteran of the armies of the First French Republic, First French Empire and Bourbon Restoration.-Origins:...