Born: 5 May 1892 (London, England)
Died: 18 December 1968
Biography:
Dorothy Annie Elizabeth Garrod, CBE, FBA (5 May 1892 – 18 December 1968) was an English archaeologist who specialized in the Palaeolithic period. She held the position of Disney Professor of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge from 1939 to 1952 and was the first woman to hold a chair at either Oxford or Cambridge.
Garrod was born on 5 May 1892 in Chandos Street, London. She was the daughter of Sir Archibald Garrod, a physician, and Laura Elizabeth Smith, the daughter of Sir Thomas Smith, 1st Baronet, a surgeon. Garrod’s father, Sir Archibald Garrod, is regarded as the founder of biochemical genetics and had been the Regius Professor of Medicine at Oxford. Her grandfather, Sir Alfred Garrod, was a leading authority on rheumatic diseases and Physician Extraordinary to Queen Victoria of England.
Garrod’s early education was conducted at home, with Isabel Fry serving as her governess. At the age of nine, she studied with Fry in Harley Street, alongside the daughter of Walter Jessop. Garrod later attended Birklands School in St Albans, where she received a well-rounded education.
In 1913, Garrod enrolled at Newnham College, Cambridge. At that time, archaeology was not yet available as a subject, so she pursued ancient and classical history. She completed her studies in 1916 while facing a personal tragedy, having lost two of her brothers, Lt Alfred Noel Garrod and Lt Thomas Martin Garrod, in World War I. Another brother, Lt Basil Rahere, died in France from Spanish influenza before demobilization. It is rumored that she also lost her fiancé during this time. Garrod volunteered with the Catholic Women’s League until 1919, after which she traveled to Malta, where her father was working as the Head of War Hospitals. It was in Malta that she developed an interest in local antiquities.
Upon her family’s return to England, settling in Oxford, Garrod pursued a graduate diploma in Anthropology in 1921. The diploma course provided her with an intensive introduction to both archaeology and anthropology, focusing on the study of ancient human cultures. She was taught by Robert Ranulph Marett, a Reader in Social Anthropology and an experienced excavator. Garrod’s lecture notes from this period, which still exist at the Museum Antiquities Nationale, display her dedication to learning and her budding passion for archaeology.
Garrod’s academic achievements did not go unnoticed. In 1921, she graduated with a distinction, distinguished as one of the few female students in her cohort. It was during this time that she found her intellectual vocation: the archaeology of the Palaeolithic Age. Garrod’s interest in this period would become her lifelong focus and her significant contribution to the field of archaeology.
Throughout her career, Garrod made important archaeological discoveries and breakthroughs. One of her notable achievements was the excavation and study of the Palaeolithic site of Mount Carmel in Palestine. Her work at Mount Carmel unearthed significant evidence of the presence of early humans, including Neanderthals, in the region.
In recognition of her contributions to archaeology, Dorothy Garrod was appointed as the Disney Professor of Archaeology at the University of Cambridge in 1939. This appointment was historic, as she became the first woman to hold a chair at either Oxford or Cambridge. Garrod’s tenure as the Disney Professor allowed her to further advance the understanding of the Palaeolithic period and solidify her standing as a pioneering figure in the field.
Dorothy Garrod’s work has had a lasting impact on archaeology and our understanding of early human history. Her dedication, perseverance, and passion for her field paved the way for future generations of female archaeologists and scientists. Garrod’s unique perspective and contributions have shaped our understanding of the Palaeolithic period and continue to inspire scholars today.
Awards:
– CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) – for her outstanding contributions to archaeology and her pioneering role as a woman in academia.