Dorothea Bate - What can we find out about local significant people?

With the launch of the National Blue Plaques scheme, run by Historic England, this activity looks at how we decide who is significant and then uses a range of historical sources to find out more about Dorothea Bate and her contribution to the fields of palaeontology and archaeozoology, and the equality of women in science and beyond.

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Teaching idea

This resource is designed for use in the Key Stage 2 classroom. The use of local stories and people is intended to make the past more relevant, real, accessible, and interesting.

Pupils are encouraged to consider what makes an individual significant, linking back to learning they may have carried out in Key Stage 1.

Pupils explore the story of a girl who grew up in the late 19th century, when girls were expected to take second place to their brothers, who went on to devote ‘her life to discovery and enriched our knowledge of the natural world’ and became an inspiration to generations of women.

Dorothea Bate is significant as the founder of archaeozoology, in which animal remains from caves and archaeological digs help reconstruct past environments, climates, and ecosystems.

She had very little formal education and was not independently wealthy, yet built a career as an internationally respected fossil expert despite pervasive gender discrimination. She overcame heavy institutional exclusion in early 20th-century science to work as a foundational researcher and fossil expert for decades.

She was a pioneer who broke through gender barriers in a male-dominated world.

Learning aims and outcomes

  • To learn about significant local historical events, people, and places, linking them to national and international events
  • To study an aspect of significant local history dating from a period beyond 1066
  • Gain an understanding of historical concepts such as significance
  • Learn how the status of women in archaeology and palaeontology has changed over the past century
  • Understand how gender bias impacted the life of Dorothea Bate
  • Understand what Dorothea Bate’s legacy is today in the Natural History Museum Tring, the world of archaeology, palaeontology and science, and for the equality of women in these fields.
  • Think about why we remember certain people and places, and what that tells us about our history

Prior knowledge

  • No prior knowledge is required

Extended learning and useful links

Also of interest

Dorothea Bate