Tessa Wheeler

Tessa Verney Wheeler was an archaeologist who made a significant contribution to excavation techniques and contributed to the setting up of major British archaeological institutions after the Second World War. Owing to the gender politics of her era, she remains best known as the wife and professional partner of Mortimer Wheeler. They collaborated on major excavations in Wales and England—including Segontium, Caerleon and Verulamium—and their investigation of Maiden Castle in Dorset had been running for two years when she died unexpectedly from complications following a minor operation.