EN
The Société normande d’études préhisto- riques was born in 1893, ten years before the Société préhistorique française. It was the first society specialising in prehistory in France. This specialisa- tion was desired by the founders, especially Amand Montier and Léon Coutil, whose action took place in the context of the building of the discipline. Montier established immediately a relationship with experi- enced members of the new scientific community. The latter thought it could be a model to the other regions, therefore, they supported the plan and some even participated in its actions. For twenty years before the First World War, the Norman society continued its activities in conjunction with its original objectives: a survey of the regional prehistoric discoveries, especially by Coutil, continuation of field research (essentially in Haute–Normandie). It took part in protection of megalithic monuments and sites and national debates, either directly or by members, especially by Louis Deglatigny. This article deals with the conditions of its formation, action, as well as evolution. It tries to assess the importance, limits and significances of the changes and to evaluate the respective parts of institutions and people.