Definition: English archaeologist and antiquarian Gertrude Bell was a phenomenal force in Mesopotamian archaeology at a time when it was largely a man's game. With a degree in history from Oxford, Bell excavated at sites such as Birbinkilise in Turkey, at Byzantine monuments in Syria, and at the Abbasid Palace of Ukhaidir. She was the founder of the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, and is considered the mother of modern Mesopotamian archaeology. She had an amazing life for any period, full of travel and adventure--and even espionage during World War I.
Ellis, Kerry 2004 Queen of the sands. History Today 54(1):30-37.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
Ellis, Kerry 2004 Queen of the sands. History Today 54(1):30-37.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Sources for the term include the references listed on the front page of the Dictionary, and the websites listed in the sidebar.
