that explicitly wished to imitate theWrst Napoleonic Egyptian expedition.
The Artistic, Literary and ScientiWc Commission claimed its aim to be to
‘study the means necessary to exploit this country’s [Mexico’s] resources to
activate its production, to increase its wealth and its prosperity’ (in Reissner
1988: 73). Archaeology was considered valuable in this respect, for it was
included, together with ethnology and linguistics, in one of the subdivisions
created in the commission. The commission counted among its accomplish-
ments important publications on Mayan archaeology, which, despite the
eVorts invested in its study, still continued to be described as inferior. The
best archaeologist in the commission, De ́sire ́de Charnay, would explain years
later that ‘after all, we ought not to deceive ourselves about the beauty
and real merit of the American relics. They are archaeological objects, nothing
more... they call forth surprise, rather than admiration, everything is so badly
done’ (in Bernal 1980: 126). In addition to Charnay, other inXuential works
were published by the Abbe ́Brasseur, Edmond Guillemin Tarayre (Scha ́velzon
2003). Important work was also organized by a parallel Mexican scientiWc
commission formed by well-known scientists of the time such as the engineer
Ramo ́n Almaraz, Francisco Jime ́nez and the geographer and writer Antonio
Garcı ́a Cubas (1832–1912) who undertook important work in the site of
Teotihuaca ́n. In the International Exhibition held in Paris in 1867 a life-sized
model of the pyramid of Xochicalco was exhibited together with drawings of
other archaeological remains of the site as well as of Teotihuaca ́n. Reproduc-
tions of the statue of Coatlicue and the Calendar stone were also included and
Wgures were modelled from the engravings made by Charnay (ibid.).
French interest in America continued after the Mexican de ́baˆcle of 1867,
when the emperor favoured by France was deposed and executed byWring
squad. Americanism grew up from the shambles: the Socie ́te ́Ame ́ricaine de
France (American Society of France) was then founded in 1875 and theWrst
International Congress of Americanists held in Nancy was organized in that
same year (Bernal 1980: 155). 6 France continued to sponsor expeditions: in
1878 the state paid Alphonse Pinart (1852–1911) to travel through Meso-
america and the Andean area forWve years and in 1875 a major collecting
Information about the French ScientiWc Commission(s) to Mexico (1864–7) can be obtained
from Bernal (1980: 107–8); Broc (1981); Reissner (1988); Scha ́velzon (2003); Williams (1993:
124).
6 The reason behind the Egyptologist Gaston Maspero’s involvement in the creation of the
American Society of France is explained in Scha ́velzon (2004). Although this issue is not really
explored in this book, it would be interesting to note that processes in the various parts of the
world which are dealt with independently in diVerent chapters of this book may have been
interconnected.
Latin America, China, and Japan 175