{"id":7010,"date":"2025-04-24T07:51:43","date_gmt":"2025-04-24T07:51:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/?page_id=7010"},"modified":"2025-06-11T22:38:02","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T22:38:02","slug":"t18-s02-papers","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/t18-s02-papers\/","title":{"rendered":"T18\/S02:(Re)making History: Exploring the Archaeological Contributions of Women from Past to Present"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Format: Paper presentations<\/strong> with discussion<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Convenors: <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Margarita Diaz-Andreu, ICREA and University of Barcelona, m.diaz-andreu@ub.edu<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nicole Boivin, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, boivin@gea.mpg.de<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emilie Dotte-Sarout, The University of Western Australia, emilie.dotte@uwa.edu.au<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The history of archaeology has predominantly centered on the achievements of white male explorers, adventurers, and researchers, whose dominance in historiographic narratives has been further amplified and popularised through Hollywood portrayals. Over the past decades, efforts to re-examine and spotlight the contributions of women in the field of archaeology have helped to demonstrate the roles that they have played in the development of the discipline. Highlighting women\u2019s contributions through biographies and explorations of their work involves more than just acknowledging their presence and the impacts that women have had. It also sheds light on the diverse social, economic, political, and geographical contexts that have shaped and constrained their practice of archaeology.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This session welcomes archaeologists of all genders to participate in creating a more diverse and inclusive disciplinary history for archaeology. In particular, it welcomes contributions that draw on intersectionality as a framework and explore how the positioning of female archaeologists within particular social, economic, geographic, and other contexts prompted unique responses to various forms of colonialism and violence. Financial constraints, gendered expectations, employment dynamics, Western academic perspectives, and diverse feminisms are also welcomed as the focus of discussion. Moreover, we expect that rewriting the history of archaeology through the transformative lens of women\u2019s perspectives may also require the inclusion of scholars outside the gender binary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, in this session we would like to encourage reflection on how the acknowledgement of women\u2019s unique contributions and responses to diverse constraints and barriers may hold the potential to significantly reshape the way archaeology is portrayed and understood today. Such exploration may also challenge participants to critically rethink Western-centric narratives and enduring colonialisms, drawing on women\u2019s perspectives to reconsider archaeological history more broadly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This session invites archaeologists and scholars from diverse fields of study and diverse genders to further the project of rewriting the history of archaeology by helping to create a more comprehensive, multi-faceted understanding of the \u201cwomen\u201d behind its practice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Papers:<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Assemblage Theory and Women in Archaeology: Thinking About Changes in Gender Relations in the History of the Discipline<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Margarita Diaz-Andreu, ICREA and University of Barcelona, Spain<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this paper, my aim is to apply assemblage theory to understand how the situation of women in archaeology has evolved from the nineteenth to the twenty-first centuries. I will examine the situated practices in which women have been involved and explore the socio-material relationships shaped by different actors. My analysis will integrate the roles of actors and actresses, focusing on their agency, power dynamics, and the intentional and unintentional consequences of their actions in the short, medium and long terms. I will investigate how the archaeological assemblage \u2013 or more precisely, the various archaeological assemblages that continuously intersect in complex and fluid ways \u2013 produce(s) transformations that often affect women\u2019s integration into the discipline in unpredictable ways. This paper forms part of the Arque\u00f3logas\/Herstory project (ref. PID2023-149477NB-I00).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pacific Matildas Project: Results from Five Years Excavating the Histories of Women in Early Pacific Archaeology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Emilie Dotte-Sarou, Sylvie Brassard and Quitterie Puel, University of Western Australia, Australia<\/em>
India-Ella Dikes-Hall, Griffith University, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Pacific Matildas research project (2020-2024) has been dedicated to finding the women in the history of Pacific archaeology, an approach that is itself very recent in the region, as a critical historiography perspective allowing the field to mature and become self-reflective. The scientific life trajectories of several tens of women have been analysed to highlight their contribution to the making of the discipline, but also to understand the historical mechanisms enabling both (i) the strategies they were able to deploy to participate in the discipline (from the museum to the field) and (ii) their erosion from disciplinary narratives. Through a mixed approach using select biographies as micro-history and the compilation of a bio-bibliographic database generating comparative information, several traits and trends have emerged, that will be discussed in this presentation. Two PhD projects have also investigated specific case studies, extending the research towards the history of women in anthropology and showing the impact of national academic traditions. The history of archaeology in the Pacific provides unique opportunities to understand transnational histories of women in science, but also intersectional perspectives given the importance of colonial contexts that had heterogenous engagements with the diverse Indigenous cultures and their varied gender identities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agnes S. Schulz \u2013 An Unknown and Underappreciated Pioneer of Global Rock Art Research<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Martin Porr, Archaeology\/Centre for Rock Art Research + Management, School of Social Sciences, University of Western Australia, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This paper discusses some of the significant contributions of Agnes Susanne Schulz (1892-1972) to archaeology, ethnography, and rock art research. Agnes S. Schulz is a largely unknown pioneer of these fields and probably the person who globally saw, studied and reproduced the most rock art in the first half of the 20th century. However, she remains largely unknown to the wider public and within academia. In 1923, she joined Leo Frobenius at his newly established Forschungsinstitut f\u00fcr Kulturmorphologie as its first full-time artist and was tasked with visually recording rock images and ethnographic materials. Until WWII, she became the most productive artist in the history of Frobenius\u2019 research institution. The archive of the Frobenius Institute in Frankfurt lists 700 painted copies of rock art images and 450 ethnographic drawings from Schulz. She participated in a substantial number of expeditions to Northern and Southern Europe, Northern and Southern Africa, and Australia. She also recorded ethnographic material culture items in museums in London, Copenhagen, Stockholm, Florence and Rome. Based on recent work with archival materials held in Frankfurt (Germany), in this paper, some preliminary assessments of Schulz\u2019s work will be presented to properly recognise her pioneering interpretative and methodological achievements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Review of the Role of Women in the Archaeology of Iran<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mahta Sheikhi, University of Tehran, Iran<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Given Iran’s cultural and historical richness, archaeology has always held a prominent place in academic and practical research. Women\u2019s participation in Iranian archaeology began in the late 19th century and peaked during the Pahlavi era, supported by state policies emphasising modernisation and heritage studies. This period marked the emergence of new opportunities for women to engage in fieldwork. However, the Islamic Revolution of 1979 brought extensive socio-political changes that profoundly transformed the role of women in this field.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This article examines women’s role in Iranian archaeology from three perspectives: their historical participation, professional challenges, and the influence of gender perspectives on archaeological interpretations. The research highlights how women have persevered and adapted to legal and social constraints with determination and flexibility. Despite women outnumbering men in archaeology programs over the past four decades, significant professional inequalities and career limitations persist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using interdisciplinary methods, this study critically explores women’s achievements and challenges in Iranian archaeology, emphasising the need for equal opportunities and fair participation of women in shaping the nation\u2019s cultural heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women Archaeologists in India: Exploring New Avenues in Archaeology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Darsana SB, Assistant Professor, PG and Research Dept of History, Holy Cross College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli, India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Archaeology, traditionally considered a profession suited for men due to its physically demanding fieldwork, has long posed significant barriers for women. In the Indian subcontinent, only women with immense determination and fortitude could venture into this discipline. During the early 20th century, Indian women and even women from other parts of the world, rarely engaged with India\u2019s past through archaeological perspectives. However, pioneers like Debala Mitra, Malti Nagar, and Shereen Ratnagar made significant contributions to theoretical and practical aspects of the discipline, inspiring many other women to join prestigious institutions to pursue courses in archaeology. Institutions like Deccan College in Pune played a pivotal role in empowering women archaeologists to explore hitherto unknown areas of India\u2019s past. By highlighting their contributions, this paper examines the contributions of key women archaeologists, their research areas, adopted methodologies, and the broader significance of their work in shaping Indian archaeology. Therefore, this paper aims to reposition women archaeologists from the periphery to the forefront of the Indian archaeological narrative and emphasise their crucial role in deepening our understanding of the subcontinent’s rich heritage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Domestic Archaeology. The Importance of Being Called \u2018Bee\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lucia Moragon, Museum technician, National Archaeological Museum, Spain<\/em>
Ruth Maicas, Curator, National Archaeological Museum, Spain<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the mid-20th century, many women in archaeology worked within the sphere of museums. They were often dedicated to anonymous tasks, such as organising, cataloguing, and inventorying collections, and to a lesser extent, writing guides and catalogues. This meticulous and continuous work was typically confined to a domain closer to the private sphere, rendering it largely invisible within professional career trajectories. However, this work was, and remains, fundamental to museum institutions. A notable example is the contribution of Mar\u00eda Luisa Oliveros Rives and Trinidad Taracena del Pi\u00f1al, two of the first curators at the National Archaeological Museum of Spain. They conducted the initial inventory of the Siret Collection, one of the most important assemblages in Spanish archaeology. Assembled during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this collection comprises materials from over 500 archaeological sites in southeastern Spain, including iconic examples such as Los Millares and El Argar. Through the study of the Taracena-Oliveros Archive, this paper explores the characteristics of their pioneering work and highlights its continued relevance. This research forms part of the Arque\u00f3logAs\/Herstory project (PID2023-149477NB-I00).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Behind a Good Man Stood a Far Greater Woman<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Michael Lever, Lantern Heritage; Australian Institute of Archaeology, Melbourne, Australia<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although found in several monographs, the name Elsie Bramell is hardly widely known in Australian archaeology. Yet, if not for the patriarchal hegemony that dominated her life, suppressed her career, and that of countless women, she would almost certainly be a foundational figure in our discipline. Brought to my attention through PhD research into biographies of Australian archaeologists, Elsie was simply a brilliant pathfinder. She was the first woman and the first to have an anthropology degree to be employed by the Australian Museum, having studied in her degree alongside Margaret Mead and W. E. H. Stanner. An analysis of her activities for the museum shows her as innovatively active, and a comparison of her publications against those of her future husband Fred McCarthy makes fairly clear the tragedy and loss to archaeology in Elsie being forced to retire in order to marry Fred. I hope to shed some light on Elsie, and bring some long overdue celebration to her memory.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women in Roman Frontier Studies: Rebalancing the Narrative<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Rebecca Jones, National Museums Scotland, UK<\/em>
Tatiana Ivleva, Newcastle University, UK<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The international congress of Roman Frontier Studies (\u2018Limes\u2019 Congress) has been running for over 75 years, meeting 26 times in 14 countries. The participation of women has grown from a single speaker at the first Congress in 1949 to an improved balance today (still not 50%), although gendered biases remain in terms of geographic area, topics and themes studied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through the lens of the biographies of some women who attended, presented and organised the congresses, we study the impact of gender, wealth and politics in the formation of Roman frontier studies as a discipline. Roman frontier studies have been, and to some extent still are, regarded as a male-dominated field, despite growing evidence challenging this assumption. The increased participation of women has resulted in a sea-change and more inclusive approach to the study of some key themes, such as the presence of women and children in frontier communities, previously assumed to be all-male environments. Moreover, of particular note is a divide in career opportunities, employment dynamics and gendered expectations of the topics studied between women working in eastern and western Europe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This paper will look at some of the challenges of these women scholars, their impact and their legacy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Being Women Archaeologists on the Margins: Reflections and a Historical Perspective from Argentina<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cristina Prieto-Olavarr\u00eda, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient\u00edficas y T\u00e9cnicas, Instituto Argentino de Nivolog\u00eda, Glaciolog\u00eda y Ciencias Ambientales; Facultad de Filosof\u00eda y Letras, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Argentina<\/em>
Lorena Puebla, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cient\u00edficas y T\u00e9cnicas, Facultad de Filosof\u00eda y Letras, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Argentina<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Conducting archaeology outside the academic centres of dominant countries and the Anglophone world has long been a challenge for South American archaeology. Situated far from the mainstream scientific circuit and embedded in peripheral scientific contexts within developing countries, women in archaeology have historically been marginalised from research spaces, positions of status, and decision-making processes, often relegated to \u2018lesser\u2019 tasks. This marginalisation was exacerbated during periods of dictatorship and scientific defunding. In this presentation, we analyse the experiences of women archaeologists who have developed their careers within Argentine archaeology, examining the impact of the local vs. international dichotomy inherent in scientific production, institutional and patriarchal violence, and the strategies employed to remain in academia. These strategies include migration to other countries and disciplines, as well as efforts to recover memories and reconstruct disciplinary history, offering perspectives that have been absent from official historical narratives. We place particular emphasis on academic spaces located outside major national research centres\u2014namely, universities and institutes in the country’s interior, which constitute an internal periphery. In these settings, women archaeologists have historically proposed innovative theoretical and methodological perspectives, resisted exclusionary structures, and built networks through decolonial perspectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women\u2019s Participation in Regional Cultural Heritage Institutions During the Portuguese Dictatorship<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beatriz Barros, Indiana University Bloomington, USA; Instituto de Hist\u00f3ria Contempor\u00e2nea, Polo da Universidade de \u00c9vora, Portugal<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the Portuguese dictatorship (1933-1974) a network of local institutions was established with the broad mandate of protecting and valourising monuments \u2013 the Comiss\u00f5es Municipais de Arte e Arqueologia (Municipal Commissions for Art and Archaeology). The vast majority of members appointed to serve in these Commissions were men, however, archival research showed that a small number of women were appointed too. This is surprising given the paternalistic and oppressive tendencies of the dictatorship towards women, who were even considered not equal at the eyes of the law and with limited rights by the Portuguese Constitution of 1933. This paper explores how the women of the Commissions were able to overcome obstacles and develop their professional activity in a political and social context that fundamentally denied their agency and public participation. Drawing from selected local archives and interviews with some of the women of the Commissions, this paper provides an illustrative case-study of what it meant to be a woman trying to do archaeology under dictatorship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women In Archaeology of Bihar, India<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Swarna Kumar, Assistant Professor, B. D. College, Patliputra University, Patna, India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women’s participation in archaeology of Bihar has historically been restricted because of socio-cultural limitations. Nevertheless, while being less well-known, they have made a substantial impact. This study investigates how women participated in excavations, research, documentation, and preservation initiatives in Bihar’s archaeology until the 20th century.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Male academics and researchers have dominated Bihar’s archaeology, despite the state’s rich historical and cultural heritage. Despite social norms, women have made contributions to archaeology, albeit in less well-known ways. This study’s goal is to draw attention to the part women played in influencing Bihar’s pre-20th century archaeological discourse and the social constraints that limited women’s access to professional employment and education throughout the colonial era and hampered their involvement in archaeology. Women were mostly involved in indirect contributions like documentation, preservation, and research assistance, while male archaeologists oversaw large excavations at locations like Apsad (Nawada), Balirajgarh (Madhubani), Buxar (Buxar), Champa (Bhagalpur), Chandadih (Muzaffarpur), Checher-kutubpur (Vaishali), Chirand (Saran), Ghora-Katora (Nalanda), Hella-Bazpur (Vaishali) Juafardih (Nalanda), Katragarh (Muzaffarpur), Kolhua (Muzaffarpur), Kumrahar (Patna), Maner (Patna), Manjhi (Saran), Oriup (Bhagalpur), Panr (Samastipur), Pataliputra (Patna), Rajgir (Nalanda), Ramchaura (Vaishali), Senuwar (Rohtas), Sonepur (Gaya), Taradih (Gaya), Raja-Vishal-ka-Garh and Relic stupa (Vaishali), Uren (Lakhisarai) etc. The other objective of this paper is to highlight the reason behind fewer career options for women in the study area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hidden Voices: \u201cHaud [hold] Fast by the Past\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Joana Valdez-Tullett, Wessex Archaeology, University of Durham, UK<\/em>
Rebecca Jones, National Museums Scotland, UK<\/em>
Elliot Knell, University of Mary Washington, USA; Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, UK<\/em>
Lucia Michielin, University of Edinburgh, UK<\/em>
Doug Rocks-Macqueen, Open Past<\/em>
Jeff Sanders, Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, UK<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

With the emergence of antiquarian studies in the 18th and 19th centuries, women were frequently excluded from the discipline. Notable pioneers in Scotland had their papers read by men at Society of Antiquaries of Scotland meetings. Eventually \u2018Lady Associates\u2019 were admitted in 1870 and women finally included as \u2018Fellows\u2019 in 1901 (over 75 years after the men). Yet this was still over three decades since the \u2018Edinburgh Seven\u2019 medical students broke down academic barriers by becoming the first undergraduate female students registered at any British University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many female Scottish antiquarians of the 19th and 20th centuries have made a significant contribution to Scottish archaeology, although often not given due credit for their work. Whilst most early pioneers came from wealth (or married wealth), opportunities remained limited, particularly as the discipline started to professionalise in the 20th century. A consortium of 21st century Scottish \u2018fellows\u2019 is undertaking the Hidden Voices research, creating and enhancing Wikipedia pages, developing podcasts, and data mining University e-theses to find out about these women and disseminate their work and research, recentralising female voices in our work to \u201chaud [hold] fast by the past\u201d (motto of Lady John Scott, 19th century antiquarian and poet).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women in Indian Prehistory: Past, Present and Future<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Suman Pandey, Deccan College Post-Graduate & Research Institute Pune, India<\/em>
Nupur Tiwari, Early Career Researcher (Independent), India<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this androcentric society, almost all the disciplines of the humanities and social sciences are dominated by men. Women in Indian prehistory have been working in the field since pre-Independence, with men primarily dominating the field. The contribution of women, specifically in Indian prehistory, has been regarded as scarce. However, in India, women have been working in the field since the 20th century. Beginning with Irawati Karwe to the present day, the number of female researchers in this field has increased significantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the present scenario, from the Lower Palaeolithic to the Neolithic, numerous sites have been discovered and excavated in recent years in different parts of India by teams led by women. Sites such as Atirampakkam by Shanti Pappu et al. (2011), Mehtakheri by Sheila Mishra et al. (2013), Kana and Mahadebbera, by Bishnupriya Basak et al. (2014), all have enriched our knowledge of Indian prehistory with their seminal work of novel discoveries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this paper, we intend to highlight the legacy of women who have contributed significant and impactful research to Indian prehistoric research from the field to the laboratory. We present here a preliminary record of ~50 women prehistorians in India, which we are sure will increase as our database and research grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Women in Turkey Who Pioneered the Foundations of Archaeology<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meltem Cemre Ustunkaya Wright, Wadawurrung Traditional Owner Aboriginal Corporation, Australia<\/em>
Muge Ergun, University of Oxford, UK<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Turkey stands out as one of the most unique countries where women archaeologists have played a leading role in advancing the understanding of ancient civilizations and redefining the nation’s region\u2019s cultural heritage. This paper will explore the trailblazers of Turkish archaeology, acknowledging their profound influence on both academic research and fieldwork practices from the early 20th century onward. These pioneering women not only led groundbreaking excavations but also dedicated themselves to preserving and protecting Turkey’s rich archaeological landscape. Moreover, their efforts have paved the way for future generations of Turkish women and beyond to play an integral role in the field of archaeology. This abstract celebrates the remarkable achievements of these women trailblazers, highlighting their invaluable contributions to the development of Turkish archaeology, their advocacy for gender equality, and their lasting impact in shaping a more inclusive and dynamic archaeological community.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Format: Paper presentations with discussion Convenors:  Margarita Diaz-Andreu, ICREA and University of Barcelona, m.diaz-andreu@ub.edu Nicole Boivin, Max Planck Institute for Geoanthropology, boivin@gea.mpg.de Emilie Dotte-Sarout, The University of Western Australia, emilie.dotte@uwa.edu.au The history of archaeology has predominantly centered on the achievements of white male explorers, adventurers, and researchers, whose dominance in historiographic narratives has been further amplified and popularised through […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1157,"featured_media":276,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":{"0":"post-7010","1":"page","2":"type-page","3":"status-publish","4":"has-post-thumbnail","6":"pmpro-has-access","7":"czr-hentry"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7010","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1157"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7010"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7010\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8903,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/7010\/revisions\/8903"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/worldarchaeologicalcongress.com\/wac10\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7010"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}