Kenyon, Kathleen Mary (1906–1978)

British archaeologist. Her all-female dig in Jericho, Palestine, 1952–60 uncovered remains of a New Stone Age (Neolithic) settlement from about 6800 BC. She also excavated in Jerusalem 1961–62, Britain, and North Africa.

Apart from many excavation reports and articles, her publications include Beginning in Archaeology 1952, Digging up Jericho 1957, Archaeology in the Holy Land 1960, Jerusalem: excavating 3,000 years of History 1967, and Royal Cities of the Old Testament 1971.

Kenyon lectured on Palestinian archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology, London University, 1948–62, and was director of the British School of Archaeology in Jerusalem 1951–63. She was principal of St Hugh's College, Oxford, 1962–73.