Monuments antiques de l'Algérie : Tébessa, Lambèse, Timgard : conférence faite au Palais du Trocadéro le 11 Décembre 1893 1894

Albert Ballu created this book, "Monuments antiques de l'Algérie," in 1894. It documents a lecture given at the Palais du Trocadéro, concerning ancient monuments in Algeria. The text presents a fascinating glimpse into France's colonial mindset. Ballu, as the architect in charge of historical monuments in Algeria, embodies the institutional power of the colonizer. The book itself, a product of French scholarship and printing, becomes a tool for classifying and possessing Algerian history. Notice the claim of having captured images "d’après les photographies de la Commission des monuments historiques" - this is a clear declaration of ownership and control. Understanding this book requires looking into the archives of French colonial administration. It asks us to consider the role of institutions in shaping perceptions of colonized lands. What does it mean to study and document monuments in a land under foreign occupation?