When we talk about the accomplishments of Dame Kathleen Kenyon (Legend!), the story of one of the 20th century’s most well-known and influential female archaeologists is only half-told. Dame Kathleen (or ‘K’) was part of a huge network of women —friends, mentors, students, and students’ students — who were #trowelblazing away long before the invention of the hashtag.
Mentors included:
Gertrude Caton Thompson – who took a young K along to the excavations of Great Zimbabwe as an illustrator… and car mechanic!
Tessa Wheeler – who gave her her early training in stratigraphy.
The many women she worked with at the Institute of Archaeology in London, on excavations, and in academic conferences:
Joan du Plat Taylor, Veronica Seton Williams, Olga Tufnell, Jacquetta Hawkes, Margaret Murray, Rachel Maxwell-Hyslop, Dorothy Marshall, and Diana Kirkbride
Kenyon also supervised the training of a new generation of PhDs, such as Claire Epstein, who supported expanded educational opportunities for women, and she (and her constant canine companions!) generally made an indelible impression on generations of students.
Along with the many well-known #trowelblazers Dame Kathleen worked with over the years, there were a host of tireless volunteers, administrative assistants, and helpers who enabled her to do her thing on-site at Jericho and Jerusalem. In the picture above you can see Nancy Lord, the site photographer who was variously nearly electrocuted and nearly asphyxiated documenting the Tombs at Jericho (front, yellow blouse).
We wish we knew the identities and stories of all the women in this photo — and if you can help solve the mystery, and tell us their stories, get in touch!
written by Brenna @brennawalks
with thanks to Katie Meyheux
I’m probably too late to be of help with your quest to find out more about trailblazers. In 1957 at age of 23 I went to UK on the Moreton Bay with two friends and on board we met Nancy Lord and Cecil Western (we thought he name was spelt Weston). They had been in Australia and were doing something relating to archeology. We became great friends and visited them in London. They were wonderfully kind to us, even lending us their tent and camping gear for our trip to the Continent. Nancy worked I think at the British Museum and they told us about her nearly getting electrocuted in Jericho. We saw them often. My husband and I visited them both where they lived together in a lovely home and garden at Brightwell-cum-Sotwell in 1970. We spent Christmas Day with them. This is just a little bit of their lives but may give you a bit more info on these two incredible women. Regards, Val Donovan ps. I have never tweeted before this.
I’m probably too late to be of help with your quest to find out more about trailblazers. In 1957 at age of 23 I went to UK on the Moreton Bay with two friends and on board we met Nancy Lord and Cecil Western (we thought he name was spelt Weston). They had been in Australia and were doing something relating to archeology. We became great friends and visited them in London. They were wonderfully kind to us, even lending us their tent and camping gear for our trip to the Continent. Nancy worked I think at the British Museum. We saw them often. My husband and I visited them both where they lived together in a lovely home and garden at Brightwell-cum-Sotwell in 1970. We spent Christmas Day with them. This is just a little bit of their lives but may give you a bit more info on these two incredible women. Regards, Val Donovan ps. I have never tweeted before this.
What a lovely memory though! Thanks so much for sharing, we will hope to add your recollection to an eventual post on Nancy Lord.