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Gertrude Caton–ThompsonEnglish female archaeologist.
Date of Birth: 01.02.1888
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Gertrude Caton-Thompson: A Pioneer in Archaeology
- World War I and Early Career
- Archaeological Explorations in Egypt
- Research in Southern Africa and the Middle East
- Yemen Excavations
- Later Life and Legacy
Gertrude Caton-Thompson: A Pioneer in Archaeology
Early Life and EducationGertrude Caton-Thompson was born on February 1, 1888, in London, England, to William Caton-Thompson and Ethel Page. She received her early education at private schools in Eastbourne and Paris.
World War I and Early Career
During the First World War, Caton-Thompson served with the British Ministry of Transport. After the war, she worked as an archaeologist in Egypt, at sites including Abydos and Oxyrhynchus.
Archaeological Explorations in Egypt
In 1921, Caton-Thompson became a student at the British Archaeological School in Egypt. It was there that she and geologist Eleanor White Gardner initiated the first archaeological survey of the northern Fayum. From 1923 to 1925, Caton-Thompson returned to the Fayum as Field Director for the Royal Anthropological Institute of Great Britain and Ireland.
Research in Southern Africa and the Middle East
In 1928-1929, Caton-Thompson embarked on an expedition to the famous ruins of Great Zimbabwe. She was the first to argue that the ruins were of African origin. She also conducted surveys in the Kharga Oasis.
Yemen Excavations
From 1937 to 1938, Caton-Thompson and Gardner, accompanied by Freya Stark, undertook systematic excavations in Yemen. These excavations yielded important new insights into the archaeology of the region.
Later Life and Legacy
Gertrude Caton-Thompson passed away on July 19, 1985, at the age of 98. She is remembered as a pioneering archaeologist who made significant contributions to the understanding of ancient cultures in Egypt, Southern Africa, and the Middle East. Her work helped to establish the field of archaeology as a rigorous and respected academic discipline.
