Juliet Clutton-Brock facts for kids

Juliet Clutton-Brock (born September 6, 1933 – died September 21, 2015) was an English scientist. She was a zooarchaeologist, which means she studied animal bones found at archaeological sites. She focused on how animals like dogs, cats, and horses became domesticated (tamed by humans). From 1969 to 1993, she worked at the famous Natural History Museum in London.

Discovering Ancient Animals

Juliet Clutton-Brock was born in London on September 6, 1933. Her father, Alan Clutton-Brock, was an art critic. When she was young, her mother passed away. In 1936, Juliet and her brother went to live with their aunt in Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Sadly, her brother died there from polio.

Juliet loved watching the wildlife in her aunt's garden. However, she was very scared of snakes! After World War II ended in 1945, she returned to England. She attended Runton Hill School, a boarding school for girls. There, she became very interested in paleontology, which is the study of fossils. She enjoyed looking for fossils in the sea-cliffs nearby.

Studying Archaeology and Zoology

In 1953, Juliet began studying archaeology at the Institute of Archaeology in London. Her professor, Frederick Zeuner, was a founder of zooarchaeology. He suggested she study zoology (the study of animals) first.

So, Juliet went to the Chelsea College of Science and Technology to study zoology. She did very well and earned a first-class degree. After that, she returned to the Institute of Archaeology. She continued her studies in zooarchaeology under Professor Zeuner. In 1962, she earned her PhD degree. Her special research was about ancient mammals found in India and western Asia.

A Career at the Museum

Juliet Clutton-Brock started working part-time at the Natural History Museum in London. From 1969 until she retired in 1993, she was a full-time senior researcher. She worked in the Mammal Section, studying ancient animal remains. Even after retiring, she continued to be a research associate there.

She also helped edit the Journal of Zoology, a scientific magazine about animals. She was its managing editor from 1999 to 2006.

Books and Publications

Juliet Clutton-Brock wrote more than 90 scientific papers, reports, and books. Many of her works were about zooarchaeology and the history of domesticated animals. Her most famous book was A Natural History of Domesticated Mammals. This book became a standard textbook for students studying zooarchaeology.

She also wrote popular books for a wider audience. These included the Cat, Dog, and Horse volumes in the Eyewitness Books series. These books helped many people learn about the history of their favorite animals. Other books she wrote include Horse Power and Cats: Ancient and Modern.

Family Life

In 1958, Juliet Clutton-Brock married Peter Jewell. He was also a biologist and interested in zooarchaeology. They had three daughters named Sarah, Rebecca, and Topsy.

In 1966, Peter became a professor in Nigeria, so the family moved there. However, they had to leave quickly in 1967 because of the Biafran war. Peter passed away in 1998.

Awards and Recognition

Juliet Clutton-Brock was recognized for her important work. On May 3, 1979, she was elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of London (FSA). This is an honor for people who have made important contributions to the study of history and archaeology. She was also a Fellow of the Zoological Society of London (FZS). This honor is given to people who have made significant contributions to zoology.

In 1993, some of her colleagues published a special book called Skeletons in Her Cupboard to honor her work.

See also

In Spanish: Juliet Clutton-Brock para niños