Using human fossils discovered in Aurignac (Haute-Garonne), geologist and prehistorian Édouard Lartet became the founder of human palaeontology. As such, today he is still considered to be one of the founding fathers of prehistory.

In August 1866, he was appointed a member of the Commission de Topographie des Gaules.
In the same year, he was also named a member of the consultative commission for the organisation of the musée gallo-romain.