Speaking of her

Harriet Boyd Hawes - Pioneer, Nurse, and Excavator of Ancient Worlds

Season 1 Episode 19

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Welcome back to Speaking of Her. This week, it's Jess' turn to tell the story, and we're talking about Harriet Boyd Hawes — a trailblazing archaeologist, nurse, and lecturer whose determination broke through the barriers of her time.

At the turn of the 20th century, archaeology was a field dominated by men — but Harriet refused to be sidelined. Defying societal expectations, she embarked on daring expeditions, unearthed groundbreaking discoveries in Crete, and became one of the first women to lead a major excavation. In this episode, we explore Harriet’s remarkable life:

  • Her fight to be taken seriously in a male-dominated discipline
  • The bold expedition that led to the discovery of the ancient Minoan town of Gournia
  • Her courage and compassion serving as a nurse during war
  • How her work forever shaped the study of ancient civilizations and inspired generations of women scholars

Harriet Boyd Hawes wasn’t just uncovering the past — she was making history herself. This is the story of a woman whose legacy reminds us that passion, grit, and vision can change the world.

Disclaimer: This episode includes discussions of war and gender discrimination.

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Sound credits:

Mystery Adventure Intro by tyops -- https://freesound.org/s/577489/ -- License: Attribution 4.0


No Copyright infringement is intended.