12th July 2010, 06:08 AM
Dinosaur Wrote:Surely this is the earliest evidence for a female archaeologist?
St Helena, mother of the emperor Constantine is normally acredited as being the first recorded archaeologist of either gender. (Some sources suggest her as the patron saint of archaeology).
Amongst her discoveries on trips to Palestine were fragments of the True Cross (attested as genuine by touching the terminally ill wih the timber fragments and noting their miraculous recoveries), the Nails of the Crucifixion, fragments of various shrounds and the Ropes that Bound Jesus.
One might suggest she was also the first to exploit the power of a gullible public regarding the veracity of her discoveries....
With peace and consolation hath dismist, And calm of mind all passion spent...