Tania Ghirshman (1900–1984), born Antoinette Levienne, was a French

archaeologist Archaeology or archeology is the scientific study of human activity through the recovery and analysis of material culture. The archaeological record consists of artifacts, architecture, biofacts or ecofacts, sites, and cultural landscap ...

and

restorationist Restorationism (or Restitutionism or Christian primitivism) is the belief that Christianity has been or should be restored along the lines of what is known about the apostolic early church, which restorationists see as the search for a purer a ...

of Ukrainian origin. Originally a

dentist A dentist, also known as a dental surgeon, is a health care professional who specializes in dentistry (the diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases and conditions of the mouth, oral cavity and other aspects of the craniofaci ...

, Ghirshman became involved in archaeology after her marriage to

Roman Ghirshman Roman Ghirshman (, ''Roman Mikhailovich Girshman''; October 3, 1895 – 5 September 1979) was a Russian-born French archeologist who specialized in ancient Persia. Ghirshman spent nearly thirty years excavating ancient Persian archeological ...

, with whom she directed numerous excavations in

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...

and

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

, most notably the ancient city of

Susa Susa ( ; Middle elx, 𒀸𒋗𒊺𒂗, translit=Šušen; Middle and Neo- elx, 𒋢𒋢𒌦, translit=Šušun; Neo-Elamite and Achaemenid elx, 𒀸𒋗𒐼𒀭, translit=Šušán; Achaemenid elx, 𒀸𒋗𒐼, translit=Šušá; fa, شوش ...

. She abandoned her career as a dental surgeon and adapted her skills in dentistry to restoration accompanying her husband

on all of his missions providing much practical support especially during difficult circumstances. Drawing the illustration for his works she also helped in restorative works on the excavated projects, as well as providing reproductions for her husband's publications. Her memoir, ''Archéologue malgré moi'' (Archaeologist in Spite of Myself), was awarded a

Prix Broquette-Gonin The prix Broquette-Gonin was a former prize awarded by the Académie française. It rewarded four disciplines: history, literature, philosophy and poetry. A separate prize was awarded by subject. Prix Broquette-Gonin (history) The prix Broque ...

in literature by the

Académie française An academy (Attic Greek: Ἀκαδήμεια; Koine Greek Ἀκαδημία) is an institution of secondary education, secondary or tertiary education, tertiary higher education, higher learning (and generally also research or honorary membershi ...

in 1971. Her memoir gave a colourful description of her life on the missions with her husband.

Awards

Ghirshman was awarded a Prix Broquette-Gonin in literature by the Académi française for the completion of her memoir "Archéologue malgré moi" or "Archaeologist in Spite of Myself" in 1971.

References

1900 births 1984 deaths Archaeologists from Istanbul French women archaeologists French archaeologists Conservator-restorers Archaeologists of the Near East French dentists Women dentists 20th-century archaeologists 20th-century dentists 20th-century French women scientists {{Archaeologist-stub