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Unearthing the Women of Verulamium
A new exhibition, ‘Women doing everything, everywhere, all at once…’ opens at Verulamium Museum, St Albans, this International Women’s Day 08 March 2024. It provides a unique opportunity to meet the female archaeologists who helped uncover Roman Verulamium in the 1930s and four significant Roman and Iron Age women with links to the town.
Guest Curator Lexi Diggins says: “As a female archaeologist, I want to highlight the extraordinary contributions made by women over the millennia. Women were overlooked and their achievements diminished in the past, and it still happens now. Through this exhibition, I’ve tried to shine a light on some interesting and significant females, from the Roman period right up to today. I hope it inspires girls and young women to want to be our archaeologists of the future.”
The exhibition highlights the role which female archaeologists played in excavating the Roman town of Verulamium in the 1930s. The most famous of these women was Tessa Wheeler who pioneered a new method of lifting mosaics and managed the dig and its budget. Wheeler ensured that the women in her team – accounting for half – shared jobs equally with their male counterparts which included labelling pottery, excavating the trenches and washing up. Wheeler was an excellent teacher and encouraged practical experience to learn about the skills of field archaeology, she also gave talks to visiting groups, from scouts to academics, and spent time creating detailed drawings of mosaics and other finds.
Another significant figure is Kathleen Kenyon who was the first female president of the Oxford University Archaeological Society and the archaeologist who led the excavation of the Roman Theatre in 1934.
The exhibition also showcases the diary of a 13-year-old girl, Helen Carlton-Smith, who helped on the dig and was nicknamed ‘Helen of Troy’ by the excavation team. She recorded her interactions with other archaeologists and developments of the excavations in a diary, giving glorious detail about the day-to-day running of an archaeological dig.
Visitors are invited to step back further in time to meet four real women who left their imprint in the archaeological record in Verulamium. The women either lived in or had links with the town in the Roman and Iron Age periods and include Boudica, who led the Iceni after the death of her husband Prasutagus in a rebellion against the Romans that destroyed Camulodunum (Colchester), Londinium (London) and Verulamium and Sabina, who scratched her name into the base of a piece of pottery found on the site, presumably to show it belonged to her.
Onlookers can imagine what life would have been like for these four women in Verulamium as their stories vividly come to life through illustrations by comic book artist Gary Erskine and soundscapes which recreate the acoustic landscape of the Roman town.
Alongside the exhibition, there will be archaeological activities taking place during the Easter school holiday and May half-term for families to join. These include blanket digs where visitors can learn how archaeologists peel back the layers to uncover objects from the past, as well as activities to learn about field archaeology skills – documenting objects and recording their context.
Catherine Newley, Audience Development Manager at St Albans Museums, says: “The Roman town of Verulamium, on which modern-day St Albans is built, means a great deal to the people living and working in the city today and forms an integral part of its identity. We are delighted to work with Lexi on this inspiring project to bring the story of Verulamium to life through significant female figures over the centuries for all to enjoy. The exhibition is part of a bigger programme of activity taking place across St Albans Museums over the next few years which is funded by Arts Council England.”
Councillor Lynn Cunningham Vice-Chair of the Public Realm committee of St Albans City and District Council and lead councillor for museums says: “Verulamium Museum is filled with ancient treasures and unique exhibits and this fascinating exhibition gives us ‘behind the scenes’ insight of the work undertaken to uncover these precious and historic items. It’s wonderful to see the pivotal role that many women have made in what we know and love about St Albans today.
“I am incredibly grateful to the museum team for bringing this educational and engaging exhibition to the city which will attract visitors from far and wide and ensures the incredible story of Verulamium endures.”
Women doing everything, everywhere, all at once… runs from 08 March to 04 July 2024 at Verulamium Museum. To take part in the archaeological activities, visit www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk/whats-on
Verulamium Museum, St Michael’s Street, St Albans, AL3 4SW, is open Monday to Friday 10am – 4.30pm (last admission 4pm) and Saturday 11am – 3.30pm (last admission 3pm). Admission charges apply. Visit www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk / @stalbansmuseums
