The practice of archaeology and epigraphic research in the Sahel region in pre-colonial and colonial times was put to the service of colonization by French politicians, military officers and ecclesiastics alike. Some explorers called for the use of ancient stone for modern construction and encouraged the transfer of Sahelian heritage to foreign museums. On the other hand, colonization also benefited archaeology. Despite the damage and destruction of Sahelian heritage, these colonial explorations - especially the production of staff maps - not only had the merit of uncovering sites, monuments...