Synopses & Reviews
The first women archaeologists were Victorian era adventurers who felt most at home when farthest from it. Canvas tents were their domains, hot Middle Eastern deserts their gardens of inquiry and labor. Thanks to them, prevailing ideas about feminine nature and#151; soft, nurturing, submissive and#151; were upended. Ladies of the Field tells the story of seven remarkable women, each a pioneering archaeologist, each headstrong, smart, and courageous, who burst into what was then a very young science. Amanda Adams takes us with them as they hack away at underbrush under a blazing sun, battle swarms of biting bugs, travel on camelback for weeks on end, and feel the excitement of unearthing history at an archaeological site. Adams also reveals the dreams of these extraordinary women, their love of the field, their passion for holding the past in their hands, their fascination with human origins, and their utter disregard for convention.
Review
"...descriptively good-humored prose... Full of well-researched facts, these tales of seven determined explorers will interest anyone looking for a good adventure."Publishers Weekly
Review
"...descriptively good-humored prose... Full of well-researched facts, these tales of seven determined explorers will interest anyone looking for a good adventure."and#151;
Publishers Weekly"Adams makes these inspirational women easily accessible"and#151;Library Journal
"Adams pays long-overdue tribute to a truly remarkable group of women who defied societal norms and expectations in order to pursue their passion for archaeology"and#8212Booklist
Synopsis
The first women archaeologists were Victorian era adventurers who felt most at home when farthest from it. Adams takes readers along with seven intrepid women, each a pioneering archaeologist, each headstrong, smart, and courageous, who burst into what was then a very young science. b&w photos.
About the Author
Amanda Adams is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley and holds a masterand#8217;s degree in anthropology from the University of British Columbia. She is the author of one previous work of nonfiction,
A Mermaidand#8217;s Tale: A Personal Search for Love and Lore.
Table of Contents
Field Notes
The Nileand#8217;s Grand Dame
Amelia Edwards (1831-1892)
Noahand#8217;s Ark and#150; A good poem by 7 and#150; No one to say no and#150; the Dolomites and#150; Lady and#145;Land#8217; and#150; Voyaging on the Nile and#150; Pyramids and other wonders and#150; Abu Simbel and#150; Responding to a threat and#150; Egyptology and#150; The fund and#150; To break a leg and#150; Revelations
All Dressed Up in a Manand#8217;s Suit
Jane Dieulafoy (1851-1916)
In a manand#8217;s suit and#150; Tomboy and#150; Meeting Marcel and#150; Being a solider and#150; Partnership and#150; The first excavations and#150; Persia and#150; The Lion Frieze and glory of Susa and#150; Rejection and#150; Paris saloons and a yawn and#150; Down south and#150; Writing about it all and#150; Back to the field and#150; Fever and#150; On being married
Mexicoand#8217;s Archaeological Queen
Zelia Nuttall (1857-1933)
Queening at the table and#150; Gold Rush and#150; A special picture book and#150; Alphonse and Nadine and#150; Terracotta heads and#150; The big fair and#150; Mr. Boas and#150; Casa Alvarado and#150; Lost things and#150; The Island of Sacrificios and#150; Fury and#150; Fame and#150; A return to light
Oh, Desert Tiger!
Gertrude Bell (1868-1926)
Catching the eye of a star and#150; Growing up with gardens and#150; Family matters and letters home and#150; School days and#150; Languages and leaving and#150; The field and#150; Pretty things and#150; Petra and#150; Days melt like snow and#150; (lost) Love - Death and reflections on adventure
Just Like a Volcano
Harriet Boyd Hawes (1871-1945)
Inside a volcano and#150; Athens by bicycle and#150; Nursing and#150; Across the wine dark sea and#150; Digging in Crete and#150; Donkeys at a Trot and#150; Gournia and#150; The Headhunter and#150; Now, the kitchen and#150; Babies and books and#150; A rumbling wake
Archaeologyand#8217;s Big Detective
Agatha Christie (1890-1976)
M is for mystery and#150; Girls? They should run wild and#150; Ashfield and#150; Coming out in Cairo and#150; Mrs. Christie and#150; Around the world and#150; The bad year and#150; Vanished and#150; Orient Express and#150; Meeting Max and#150; Le Camping and#150; Khabur Valley and#150; A detectiveand#8217;s eye - Tell me
Like a Glass of Stony White Wine
Dorothy Garrod (1892-1968)
Archaeologyand#8217;s new voice and#150; family of science and#150; three brothers and#150; Abband#233; Breuil and#150; Human origins and#150; A tiny skull in her hands and#150; Mount Carmel and#150; Sherry Sabbath and#150; Deafening! - Hello Cambridge and#150; Ancient beaches and#150; The Amazons have broken down the gates at last
Excavations
Glossary
Notes
Bibliography
Recommended Reading
Acknowledgments