An engineer and former student of the École Polytechnique, a bibliographer and archaeologist, René de Kerviler was the president of the Société de géographie de Saint-Nazaire (Loire-Atlantique). He was appointed a correspondent of the Commission de Topographie des Gaules in August 1874.

An engineer serving archaeology

After his brilliant studies at the École Polytechnique and then at the École nationale des ponts et chaussées, René Pocad du Cosquer de Kerviler was posted at Tarbes (1867), Saint-Brieuc (1869) and Saint-Nazaire (1874). It was during the construction of the Penhoët basin and the entrance to the port of Saint-Nazaire that he discovered evidence of prehistoric life. He reported his findings to Alexandre Bertrand, CTG secretary and director of the musée gallo-romain, in a highly detailed report, backed up with annotated photographs.

Associated media

Open Media Library