Exhibition, Lecture & Science
"Life paths of early female archaeologists"
Saturday, 23/08/2025 / 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM / Heinrich Schliemann Museum
Special exhibition at the Schliemann Museum Ankershagen
The special exhibition "Ein gut Theil Eigenheit - Lebenswege früher Archäologinnen" at the Schliemann Museum focuses on women and their research achievements in archaeology from the late 18th to the 21st century. The focus is usually on male colleagues, like Schliemann, when it comes to archaeological excavations in previous centuries. Today, the perception has changed and women are also more present in archaeology. The exhibition provides information about the beginnings of this development and shows the women involved in archaeological research between the humanities and natural sciences in the field, in the laboratory and at the desk.
Visitors to this special exhibition will get to know nine women from a wide range of social backgrounds who have carved out a place for themselves in archaeology despite social adversity. One of them is Sibylle Mertens-Schaaffhausen (1797-1857), one of the first female archaeologists in Germany. In addition to her research, she raised six children, made music and traveled. Yes, woman power already existed in the 18th century.
The exhibition was created as part of the AktArcha research and education project, based at the University of the German Armed Forces in Neubiberg and run by Prof. Dr. Elsbeth Bösl and PD Dr. Doris Gutsmiedl-Schümann.
This project was funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
All statements without guarantee.
