– 13-year-old Helen Carlton-Smith helped excavate a Roman settlement near Hertfordshire, England, uncovering gold coins and mosaics
– Carlton-Smith’s participation was overseen by archaeologist Tessa Verney Wheeler, who instructed and trained many women archaeologists at the site
– Many women who worked at the Verulamium Excavation, including Carlton-Smith, went on to have successful careers in archaeology, influenced by Tessa Wheeler’s mentorship.
In the early 1930s, a 13-year-old girl named Helen Carlton-Smith helped excavate a former Roman settlement near Hertfordshire, England, alongside female archaeologists. Until recently, her participation was not well-known. The excavation took place at Verulamium, one of Britain’s largest Roman cities, led by archaeologist Mortimer Wheeler and his wife Tessa Verney Wheeler.
Women have been involved in archaeological digs since the 19th century, although their contributions were often overlooked compared to their male counterparts. Carlton-Smith, whose mother was enlisted to sketch and draw the dig site, kept a detailed diary of the excavation over a few years and was even nicknamed “Helen of Troy” by Mortimer Wheeler due to her regular presence.
Tessa Wheeler played an integral role in teaching and instructing the team of archaeologists, both men and women, working on the excavation. She not only imparted skills in drawing and photographing archaeological features but also managed projects and trained others. Many women who worked at the Verulamium site went on to have successful careers in archaeology, including Kathleen Kenyon and Peggy Piggot Guido.
Unfortunately, Tessa Wheeler’s life was cut short in 1936 before she could see the opening of the Verulamium Museum that she had fundraised for. Despite this, her impact on those she met was significant and has continued to influence and connect people in the field of archaeology up to the present day.