A Trailblazer for Women in Archaeology and History Harriet Boyd Hawes
19 SEP 2024
Harriet Boyd Hawes carved a path for women in archaeology at a time when the field was dominated by men. Known for her pioneering work in Crete, where she became the first woman to lead a major excavation, Boyd Hawes unearthed critical insights into the Minoan civilization, while also breaking gender barriers in academia.
Harriet Boyd Hawes (far right, standing and wearing all white) and the workmen at Gournia in 1904 (Image: Harriet Boyd Hawes Papers, Smith College Archives)
Harriet Boyd Hawes (1871–1945) was a trailblazing American archaeologist, celebrated for her groundbreaking work in Crete as the first woman to lead an archaeological excavation. Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Boyd showed a strong aptitude for history and languages from an early age. She graduated from Smith College in 1892 with a degree in Classics, and later continued her studies in Greece.
In an era when archaeology was a male-dominated field, Boyd Hawes faced numerous obstacles in pursuing her passion for fieldwork. Refusing to be deterred, she traveled to Crete in 1900. After overcoming initial challenges, she gained permission to excavate, and in 1901, she made history by discovering and directing the excavation of the Minoan town of Gournia on the island of Crete.
The Gournia excavation was a resounding success. Boyd Hawes and her team uncovered a well-preserved Bronze Age settlement, complete with homes, workshops, and roads. This discovery provided invaluable insights into the everyday life of the Minoans and was one of the first examples of a Minoan town, rather than a palace, to be unearthed. Her meticulous work cemented Crete’s importance in the study of Aegean prehistory.
View of Gournia, excavated by Harriet Boyd Hawes in 1901, 1903, and 1904. | second group with tripod support and loop handle
Beyond her archaeological contributions, Boyd Hawes was also a nurse and humanitarian. She volunteered as a nurse during the Greco-Turkish War in 1897 and again during World War I, caring for wounded soldiers. Boyd Hawes earned widespread respect for her work and her pioneering excavations laid the foundation for future studies of Minoan civilization. She later became a professor at Wellesley College, where she inspired generations of students and scholars. Harriet Boyd Hawes is remembered not only for her archaeological achievements but also for breaking gender barriers in the field, opening doors for future women in archaeology.
