Biography

Born August 6 1912, Paris. Died in Versailles on January 14 1997.

Training and professional career

  • 1942-1943 : Director of excavations in North Africa (Djerba, Cherchel, Tipasa)
  • 1943 : Director of excavations at Nice-Cimiez
  • 1944-1946 : Assistant in Ancient History at the Sorbonne
  • Director of Studies at the École pratique des Hautes Études (Antiquités de la Gaule romaine), 1946-1980
  • 1947-1957 : Director of excavations in Paris (Thermes du musée de Cluny)
  • 1961 : Ecole Normale Supérieure, agrégé in history and geography, member of the École Française de Rome, Docteur ès Lettres
  • 1961-1969 : Director of excavations at Nîmes (Roman walls)
  • 1962-1963 : Contributed to the creation of the Conseil Supérieur de la Recherche Archéologique, the organization of national archaeological publications at the CNRS (Gallia2 journal), the study of Gallo-Roman cities, the scientific dissemination of ancient Celtic art throughout Europe and particularly in Gaul, Gallo-Roman religion, the Gallic calendar and Gallic coins
  • 1964-1982 : Professor at the Collège de France, chair Archaeology and History of Gaul (chair created for Camille Jullian (1905-1930), re-established by Albert Grenier (1936-1946))
  • 1971 : Member and former president of the Société nationale des Antiquaires de France, member of the Commission municipale du Vieux Paris, member of the Conseil artistique des Musées nationaux. Member of the Institut (Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres)
  • 1971-1978 : President of the French Ministry of Culture's Higher Council for Archaeological Research
  • Member of the Editorial Board of the Revue des Études Anciennes
  • Director of Gallia
  • Vice-Chairman of the Committee of the journal Études Celtiques
  • Director of the Carte archéologique de la Gaule romaine (Archaeological map of Roman Gaul)
  • Scientific co-director of the " l'Univers des formes" collection 

Awards and distinctions

  • 1962 : Grand Prix Gobert de l'Académie des Inscriptions et Belles-Lettres
  • 1967 : Honorary doctorate from the National University of Ireland. Member of the Board of Directors of the Centre national de la recherche scientifique
  • 1979 : Grand prix national d'Histoire awarded by the French Ministry of Culture,
  • Officer of the Légion d'Honneur
  • Commandeur des Palmes Académiques
  • Officier des Arts et Lettres
  • Commander of the National Order of Merit