Isabel McBryde facts for kids

Isabel McBryde (born 16 July 1934) is a famous Australian archaeologist. She is a professor at the Australian National University (ANU). Many people call her the "Mother of Australian Archaeology". This is because she helped train many archaeologists in Australia.

Isabel McBryde studied the history of Aboriginal Australia in a complete way. She looked at all parts of it. Her students have continued this important way of studying. She also worked hard to protect important Aboriginal cultural sites and history.

Isabel McBryde's Early Life and Education

Isabel McBryde was born in Fremantle, Western Australia on 16 July 1934. Her family moved to Melbourne soon after she was born.

She studied Latin and history at the University of Melbourne. Later, she learned about archaeology at Cambridge University in England in 1959.

Career in Australian Archaeology

In 1960, Isabel McBryde came back to Australia. She became the first ever lecturer in prehistory at the University of New England (UNE). Prehistory is the study of very old times, before written records. This was the first job of its kind in Australia.

She earned her PhD degree from UNE in 1966. Her study focused on the Aboriginal archaeology of the New England region of New South Wales. This was the first PhD awarded for fieldwork in Australian archaeology. At UNE, she started courses that taught students the importance of studying specific regions.

In 1974, McBryde moved to the ANU. She became a senior lecturer in prehistory and Anthropology. By 1986, she was leading the prehistory department. She retired from ANU in 1994.

Awards and Special Honours

Isabel McBryde has received many important awards for her work.

• In 1979, she became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
• In 1990, she was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This was for her great work in education and Australian prehistory.
• In 2001, she received a Centenary Medal. This award was for her service to cultural heritage and as a respected archaeologist.
• In 2003, she won the Rhys Jones Medal. This is the highest award from the Australian Archaeological Association. The award noted that she has had a huge impact on almost everyone in Australian archaeology.
• In 2005, she became a life member of the Australian Archaeological Association. She was a founding member of this group and its first secretary.

Her important work is also featured in the book Deep Time Dreaming: Uncovering Ancient Australia by Billy Griffiths.