Gertrude Caton–Thompson
Encyclopedia
Gertrude Caton-Thompson was an influential English
archaeologist at a time when participation by women in the discipline was uncommon.
Gertrude Caton-Thompson was born to William Caton-Thompson and Ethel Page in 1888 in London
, England. She attended private schools in Eastbourne
and in Paris
. Her interest in archaeology began on a trip to Egypt
with her mother in 1911. During World War I
, Caton-Thompson worked for the British Ministry of Shipping and she attended the Paris Peace Conference
in 1919. Caton-Thompson subsequently worked as an archaeologist in Egypt
at the sites of Abydos
and Oxyrhynchus
. Whilst studying at the British School of Archaeology in Egypt from 1921 to 1926 Caton-Thompson and the geologist
Elinor Wight Gardner began the first archaeological survey of the northern Faiyum. She continued working in the Faiyum over the next two years, as field director for the Royal Anthropological Institute
. From 1928 to 1929, Caton-Thompson excavated the famed ruins at Great Zimbabwe
, being the first to state that the ruins were of decidedly African origin. She also worked in Kharga Oasis
. Towards the end of 1937 Caton-Thompson and Elinor Gardner, accompanied by Freya Stark
, initiated the first systematic excavation in the Yemen
. She was a research fellow at Newnham College, Cambridge
in 1923 and again from 1934-45.
She influenced Mary Leakey
by allowing her to tag along on archaeological expeditions as an amateur archaeologist and artist.
Caton-Thompson died in her 97th year at Broadway, Worcestershire
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
archaeologist at a time when participation by women in the discipline was uncommon.
Gertrude Caton-Thompson was born to William Caton-Thompson and Ethel Page in 1888 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England. She attended private schools in Eastbourne
Eastbourne
Eastbourne is a large town and borough in East Sussex, on the south coast of England between Brighton and Hastings. The town is situated at the eastern end of the chalk South Downs alongside the high cliff at Beachy Head...
and in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. Her interest in archaeology began on a trip to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
with her mother in 1911. During World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Caton-Thompson worked for the British Ministry of Shipping and she attended the Paris Peace Conference
Paris Peace Conference, 1919
The Paris Peace Conference was the meeting of the Allied victors following the end of World War I to set the peace terms for the defeated Central Powers following the armistices of 1918. It took place in Paris in 1919 and involved diplomats from more than 32 countries and nationalities...
in 1919. Caton-Thompson subsequently worked as an archaeologist in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
at the sites of Abydos
Abydos, Egypt
Abydos is one of the most ancient cities of Upper Egypt, and also of the eight Upper Nome, of which it was the capital city. It is located about 11 kilometres west of the Nile at latitude 26° 10' N, near the modern Egyptian towns of el-'Araba el Madfuna and al-Balyana...
and Oxyrhynchus
Oxyrhynchus
Oxyrhynchus is a city in Upper Egypt, located about 160 km south-southwest of Cairo, in the governorate of Al Minya. It is also an archaeological site, considered one of the most important ever discovered...
. Whilst studying at the British School of Archaeology in Egypt from 1921 to 1926 Caton-Thompson and the geologist
Geologist
A geologist is a scientist who studies the solid and liquid matter that constitutes the Earth as well as the processes and history that has shaped it. Geologists usually engage in studying geology. Geologists, studying more of an applied science than a theoretical one, must approach Geology using...
Elinor Wight Gardner began the first archaeological survey of the northern Faiyum. She continued working in the Faiyum over the next two years, as field director for the Royal Anthropological Institute
Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland
The Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland is the world's longest established anthropological organization, with a global membership. Since 1843, it has been at the forefront of new developments in anthropology and new means of communicating them to a broad audience...
. From 1928 to 1929, Caton-Thompson excavated the famed ruins at Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, which existed from 1100 to 1450 C.E. during the country’s Late Iron Age. The monument, which first began to be constructed in the 11th century and which continued to be built until the 14th century, spanned an...
, being the first to state that the ruins were of decidedly African origin. She also worked in Kharga Oasis
Kharga Oasis
El-Kharga , also known as Al-Kharijah, is the southernmost of Egypt's five western oases. It is located in the Libyan Desert, about 200 km to the west of the Nile valley, and is some 150 km long. It is located in and is the capital of New Valley Governorate...
. Towards the end of 1937 Caton-Thompson and Elinor Gardner, accompanied by Freya Stark
Freya Stark
Dame Freya Madeline Stark, Mrs. Perowne, DBE was a British explorer and travel writer. She wrote more than two dozen books on her travels, which were mainly in Arabia, Iran and Afghanistan....
, initiated the first systematic excavation in the Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
. She was a research fellow at Newnham College, Cambridge
Newnham College, Cambridge
Newnham College is a women-only constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England.The college was founded in 1871 by Henry Sidgwick, and was the second Cambridge college to admit women after Girton College...
in 1923 and again from 1934-45.
She influenced Mary Leakey
Mary Leakey
Mary Leakey was a British archaeologist and anthropologist, who discovered the first skull of a fossil ape on Rusinga Island and also a noted robust Australopithecine called Zinjanthropus at Olduvai. For much of her career she worked together with her husband, Louis Leakey, in Olduvai Gorge,...
by allowing her to tag along on archaeological expeditions as an amateur archaeologist and artist.
Caton-Thompson died in her 97th year at Broadway, Worcestershire
Broadway, Worcestershire
Broadway is a village and civil parish in the Worcestershire part of the Cotswolds in England.Often referred to as the "Jewel of the Cotswolds", Broadway village lies beneath Fish Hill on the western Cotswold escarpment...
.
Publications
- The Zimbabwe Culture, 1931.
- The Desert Fayum, 1935.
- Kharga Oasis in Prehistory, 1952.
External links
- Gertrude Caton-Thompson (1888-1985), Archaeologist papers at the Cambridge University Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies