Jericho: Ditching the Dirt

Expanding on the accompanying online exhibition’s theme of female archaeologists, through its focus on Kathleen Kenyon, this episode takes a look at Gertrude Caton-Thompson (1888-1985) and Tessa Wheeler (1893-1936). These women were pioneering archaeologists in their own right, who had a connection to Kenyon, as she trained under them in Zimbabwe and Verulamium respectively. This episode will also be addressing wider themes, such as Feminist Archaeology and misogyny within the field.

This episode continues the interview with Felicity Cobbing, Chief Executive & Curator of the Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF). It will delve into the workings of the PEF and its deep connection with Ancient Jericho, through the excavations of Charles Warren in 1868, and John Garstang between 1930 and 1936, which are touched upon in the accompanying online exhibition, highlighting the excavations conducted prior to Kathleen Kenyon.

Durham University’s Oriental Museum has 128 objects from Ancient Jericho in their collection.  This episode will be presenting the fascinating research conducted by a member of the team, which looks at how the objects came to the Oriental Museum. They have also discovered a fascinating connection between Kathleen Kenyon’s excavation and Durham University, so do tune in!

Is there something you want to know from an archaeologist? In this episode, Professor Robin Skeates, the Programme Director of MA Museum and Artefact Studies in the Department of Archaeology at Durham University, shares an intriguing object found by his excavation team, the best and challenging part of being an archaeologist, and his advice for anyone who wants to pursue a future in archaeology.

In this episode the team interviews Felicity Cobbing, Chief Executive and Curator of the Palestine Exploration Fund (PEF), where she talks about the PEF, the importance of archaeology and Jericho as an archaeological site, and her advice on pursuing a career in archaeology.

Kathleen Kenyon became known as the Mistress of Stratigraphy because of her excavations at Ancient Jericho between 1952 and 1958. This episode will discuss what fuelled Kenyon to carry out excavations there and what it was like to excavate with her.

The primary source for this episode was the book Dame Kathleen Kenyon: Digging Up the Holy Land by Miriam C. Davis.

Welcome to the first episode of this podcast series! Dive deep into the life of an influential female archaeologist from history: Dame Kathleen Kenyon.

The primary source for this episode was the book Dame Kathleen Kenyon: Digging Up the Holy Land by Miriam C. Davis.