Feb 2021
Pioneering archaeologist Maria Theresa encourages women to follow their passions
International Women's Day - 8 March 2021
Maria Theresa Starkie, age 97, recently gave a talk on archaeology adventures at The Coombs in Coleford, the OSJCT care home which she moved to last summer.
Whilst archaeology has always been a male dominated pastime, Maria Theresa was not daunted. Born in Italy, she studied archaeology in London and Cambridge in the 1940s and 1950s. She was also employed as an English teacher of foreign students in a Surrey boys’ school. The mother of one would frequently spend her holidays and weekends on digs with her husband and a teacher, Dr Alexander.
Maria Theresa said, “We mostly dug in England and France. My mission was to find as many fossils as I could. I was also fascinated with the geology of the earth and the fault lines created by the shifting of the tectonic plates and what has happened to the earth over millions of years.”
She continued: “There were many more men than women in archaeology when I was younger that’s probably not the case now. I didn’t think about it at the time, I just got on with doing what I wanted to do. I am very pleased that opportunities have improved for women. They are seen more as equal to men these days.
“I was very fortunate that I always felt that I was being treated as an equal, whilst this was far from the case for many women. Now things are changing, this is good for all!
“I would encourage women to follow their passion, be that archaeology or teaching or any other job. There is no reason why women can’t do the same jobs as men.”
To learn more about the talk which Maria Theresa gave at The Coombs, showing fellow residents her favourite fossils, click here.