As a result of the discovery of the early Stone Age a series of international congresses of prehistoric archaeology and anthropology were arranged from the 1860s and into the 20th century. The solemn meetings, during which much of our discipline was formed, were held in different European countries. The participants were professional scholars and prehistorians, and the meetings were elitist. Women were not allowed to study at universities and seldom worked outside the home. The meetings were supposed to have been for men only, but there were women present at every meeting. It is possible to trace these pioneers through membership lists. It is also evident that women participated in archaeological and anthropological research.